Welcome to Halifax

The swan has been sat on her nest for some time now and the regulars to the park have been constantly asking for updates. Yesterday I was the first to see her new arrivals as three cygnets could be clearly seen in the nest and I happily passed on the news like a proud father. If I'd had cigars I would have been handing them out.

She was constantly fidgeting though which suggests there may be more still to hatch. Last year she had eight who all survived and the year before she had six so fingers crossed there's a few more to come.

One of the three was clearly more confident than the others and was eager to explore its surroundings venturing out of the nest and pecking at twigs.

It must be amazing to see the world for the first time with new sights, new smells and sunshine on their beaks. I do hope the first thing they saw wasn't me!!