Cygnet Rings

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) with cygnets

I went up to the park today to check for any sign of the ringed birds (coot and greylag) but they weren't around. Most of the goslings that hatched before I went away, have survived and are now looking big and strong at 2 1/2 weeks old. Later clutches haven't done as well - One pair had only 4 young looking just a few days old and the final pair had just a single chick that was even younger.

Now that the mute swans have their cygnets, the cob is being very aggressive towards the geese, even climbing out of the water to pester them on land. Something has already happened to one of the swan brood - 6 today, but a friend at the park tells me there were 7 yesterday. Maybe the cob has reason to be angry?