Swans

NOW that summer is creeping up, I’m sure you are all taking the time to enjoy the longer evenings. And if you have stopped by your local pond or river you will probably have seen swans, huge majestic white creatures gliding on the water with their multitude of little grey offspring.

We have three species of swan in the UK – mute, whooper and Bewick’s. Our best-known, and the most common, is the orangebilled mute swan. The other two, both of which have bright yellow beaks, are winter visitors from Iceland and Siberia with only a handful staying all year.

Bewick’s were named after Thomas Bewick in 1830. A skilled engraver, he specialised in producing pictures of the birds. Whoopers are named for their noisy calls and mute, are not mute, but compared to the others they are practically silent.

Swans have the honour of being highly protected in the UK. It is well known that the Queen claims ownership of all mute swans in the UK – but only the mutes. Their yellow-billed relatives are still protected, but not royally. The reason mute swans are owned by the Queen is to stop us commoners from eating them, since they were historically a favourite banquet centrepiece. Swans are fairly safe from hunting these days, in fact, the most common cause of death is electrocution after flying into power lines.

Oh, and that old wives’ tale about swans being able to break your leg with one beat of their mighty wing? I’m afraid to say it’s a load of codswallop. They are happy to hiss and flap their wings at you, but it is all bluster with no real substance to back it up. I told one friend in Finland that it was a common belief in the UK and she nearly choked on her tongue laughing at me.

Have you been lucky enough to see a purple pillar of flowers growing in thick grass or on marshland? You may have spotted one of Britain’s beautiful wild orchids. Early purple orchids are blooming right now and exotic little things they are, too. Make sure you take a good, close look to really take in their beauty, but don’t touch – they are protected.