Growth of nine cygnets in Battersea Park

My first visit to the lake in London's Battersea Park was on 9th April, which was a cool grey day.  I had never walked round the lake before and was surprised to discover how large it was.  There were the usual sort of birds on the water - Canada Geese, Coots, Moorhens, Egyptian Geese, Mallards and Herons.  However, there was a distinct lack of swans.  I have found that the lakes in parks usually contain lots of swans and the only one I saw that day was sleeping on a nest in the reeds at the far side of the lake.

Mute swan on distant nest in the reeds

The next time I visited the lake was over a month later, on 29th May.  This time I saw 2 Mute swans, mum and dad, with 9 tiny cygnets.  I presume that these were from the nest in the reeds as I still have not seen any other swans in the park.  Below was my first view of them swimming along the middle of the boating lake.  The male is leading the way while the female is swimming near her babies.

Mum and dad Mute swan with 9 tiny cygnets

Mute swan pen with 9 tiny cygnets

I made another visit to the lake just a few days later, on 2nd June, and was very pleased to see that the parent swans still had all 9 cygnets.  The swans were lucky to be living in Battersea Park as there did not seem to any seagulls hanging around.  They appear to be persecuting the swans in Hyde Park or Regent's Park instead, who seem to be lucky if they can hang on to just one cygnet, let alone the whole brood.

Female Mute swan with her 9 fluffy cygnets

I went to the park again today, 19th June, and how the cygnets have grown.  They are now looking like young fluffy swans with long necks - and there are still all nine of them.  Great!

9 large cygnets

The male and female swans were making sure that no harm came to their young while a couple of children were feeding them with unsuitable bread.

Male and female Mute swan with 9 large cygnets

9 large cygnets head towards the female Mute swan

It is interesting watching the cygnets grow and I will try to go for another walk in the park soon, if I can.