Salt Mill,Swans and Such

For the first time in a very long time, Ron suggested a walk together this afternoon. Salt Mill Park, because it's flat, there are benches every 100 yards, and he can sit and look out over the river and admire the boats. I find it quite frustrating having to wait for him and sit/stand about instead of actually walking, but the dog was happy enough to have a toy thrown for him for a while, although he didn't count it as a 'walk' and kept trying to make me take him further rather than get in the car. By the time we got home his body language was so dejected that I gave in and took him on a quick run up and down the coombe anyway, just as it was getting dark.

At Salt Mill I saw a brown swan flying past towards Waterside. Navigating by shoreline, following every contour, keeping low and labouring mightily to keep in the air. By the time we got to Waterside, having also stopped off at Jubilee Green to look at more boats, the ugly duckling was outside the pub being fed, with a couple of older swans. It's not actually entirely brown - there is some evidence of white feathers coming through on its back - but it's still very unusual for a cygnet not to have changed colour by this time of year. I'm not sure whether it belongs to Waterside, either. I haven't actually seen any cygnets this year, which doesn't mean there aren't any, just that I haven't seen them, but it's strange to see a young bird on its own, without parents or siblings. Shortly after we arrived a whole gang of swans (and a goose) arrived, more than 20 of them, but the brown one seemed to be keeping himself somewhat apart from the rest. If he is a stranger, then it is to be hoped that he settles down as well as George the goose has. It's a year now since he first took over as gang leader of the Waterside flock.