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July 22: "From reliable sources..." an update on the Mute Swans elsewhere in the park.. It is now confirmed that the old pair that used to be in the pond near the Aquarium (under the old Heron colony) were moved to the pond inside the miniature train track when the site of the Heron colony was "redeveloped" (a few years ago). More recently they were moved to the Children's Farm where the cob died. The pen has been moved back to the train pond. Two of the young swans introduced to the train pond earlier this year have been moved to Queen Elizabeth Park. "Ivory" - the Polish Mute hatched on Lost Lagoon last year remains in the train pond. Would it not have made more sense to move the "F" pair from Lost Lagoon? The train swans were apparently living quite well as a group, whereas the "F" pair have been confined by the "B"s to a small area of the Lagoon (close to a dangerous road).
August 5: "B" cob seen chasing the new "F" pair out of the water at the Ceperly end of the Lagoon. Prior to this the "F" pair have been moving closer to the main part of the Lagoon, but have yet to be seen past the Stone Bridge. Seeing the "F" pair out of the water gave me an opportunity to look at the rings on their legs. These are large metal rings (open at the join). On the pen (banded on left leg) I could read "VBP 2002 NO6". This band was hanging loose below the birds "knee", resting on the foot. The cob's band is fitted above the right knee tight to the bird's body. The bird's feathers obscured most of the lettering but I could read "NO7". This band has been badly fitted and appears to be causing inflammation to the top of the joint. The band itself has an uneven join leaving a sharp corner that is likely the cause of the injury. A few years ago another bird was badly banded. Once again I have to question the expertise of the people "caring" for these animals.
This is the end of the swan log. I was unable to continue the observations in any meaningful way and the logging just faded away. M.T. White, 2008.