New River Serenity

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Permalink Reply by Hugh on October 20, 2020 at 19:18

I like the second shot, which you'd added as an attachment. I've now added that one inline too. 

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Permalink Reply by tim p on October 21, 2020 at 17:33

Thanks Hugh,

I obviously missed the correct way to do that !!

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Permalink Reply by Dick Harris on October 21, 2020 at 2:39

Serene indeed but I gather from the swan rescue people that swans can be very nasty to each other. One adult swan that got trapped in my garden seems to have taken refuge from other swans.  It couldn't be persuaded to go back into this very stretch of the river while its enemies were still there.

I mention this now because on Friday last I found a dead swan in my garden just over the fence from where your group of three were adorning the river.  It was full sized, not fully fledged and had no apparent injuries so I suppose it died of stress.

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Permalink Reply by tim p on October 21, 2020 at 17:32

Sad indeed, I noticed only the one signet (sygnet) , generally 2 or 3 more survive but maybe North London is too stressful , although some years ago I had a flat on Pemberton Road, Garden flat , bedroom windows opened directly onto the New River and swans regularly nested outside , hatching 5 or 6 chicks. 

One would have thought a nearly fully grown swan would fend off potential diners, as you say , they can be fierce. I have taken to strolling around the lakes/reservoirs over Tottenham wetlands way and swans seem to be thriving there.

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Permalink Reply by tim p on October 21, 2020 at 17:54

Swan attack, Cotswolds

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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on October 21, 2020 at 18:09

Tim, Latin clue: cycnus 

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Permalink Reply by tim p on October 21, 2020 at 19:05

Well then, that Grammar School education and compulsory Latin in the first year fell on deaf ears, I stand corrected. A  word I have never had the need to spell, or say, but, rest assured, should the occasion arise, I will be prepared. However "signet" does have a certain ring to it, don't you think ?   No excuse for poor spelling though.

Thank you.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on October 23, 2020 at 6:21

"Signet" was the answer to a cryptic crossword question I solved this week that had ring in the clue

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Permalink Reply by Gordon T on October 21, 2020 at 19:54

It's all Greek to me.

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Permalink Reply by Old-Age-Emporium(OAE) on October 23, 2020 at 12:32

Ah Gordon, that would be kúknos or kyknos. Greek script not available.

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on October 23, 2020 at 6:27

So sad. I saw a brood learning to fly in Finsbury Park last week so maybe it got injured? Are there any overhead cables?

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Permalink Reply by Dick Harris on October 24, 2020 at 12:28

No cables nearby although there are trees and Thames Water's large overhead gantry.  Perhaps it did fly into the garden and then discovered there was no way out.  Even an experienced adult swan needs a longish runway to get airborne and I have never seen one take off from our side of the fence.  The young casualty couldn't have been in the garden for more than a few hours so it couldn't have simply starved.  That's why I suggested stress.

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