The arrival of the first cygnets at Abbotsbury Swannery is a major event in its calendar. The cute tiny cygnets are a draw for many tourists visiting the South West of the UK.
Unfortunately the other major event, the biennial roundup of around 700 to 800 swans, cannot be held this year because of Covid-19.
The roundup is when Swannery staff, the Reserve team and over 100 volunteers, over a two-day period, push Mute Swans along the Fleet up to Abbotsbury. This is possible when non-breeding Mute Swans go in to moult, meaning that for a short period of time they are unable to fly, most moult during July.
Once in the pens a team of catchers pass out the swans to volunteers who carry their swan throughout the processing stages to be health checked, weighed, vaccinated and re-ringed if needed, before being released back in to the Fleet.
In 2019 857 swans were caught and processed, including the resident Whooper who had been staying on the reserve since 2018.
For a bit of calmness in your life play this charming video by Geoff Moore, award winning travel blogger and writer, from The Travel Trunk