First cygnet born in sign of early summer

First cygnet born in sign of early summer

The first cygnet of the year has hatched a fortnight earlier than usual at Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset.



The first chick to emerge is a traditional sign of the start of summer, something that normally happens in mid-May.

Benedictine monks have looked after the swans since the 14th century, keeping records which date back to 1393. The first egg to hatch in a nest usually prompts the other cygnets to emerge and soon there are expected to be up to 1,000 baby swans on about 140 nests.