Country Diary: 106 swans and the first geese | ShootingUK

A countryside account by Giles Catchpole describes an unusual day at a local lake: he arrived expecting cloudy water and algae but found it clear and bright—dominated by 106 swans. They gathered in front of his casting platform, hissing and snorting, and formed a structured flock with “cobs” patrolling the perimeter and driving away anyone that tried to leave. Despite hours watching instead of fishing, the swans did not move and he caught no trout. Later, he observes geese, including pinkfeet, arriving in mid-September near the coast, feeding around hedgerows packed with blackberries and an apple tree weighed down by fruit, attributed in part to drought conditions.