Abbotsbury Swannery

The only place in the world where you are able to walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans.

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A quick walk round between showers, and possibly not the best time of year for a visit.  But still, a fair number of birds just swanning about and trying their best not to pose with intereting shapes and symetery.

 

Two black swans doing their best

 

Cynets made some interesting shapes and shades

 

And one alpha male seems determined to bite the neck off another bird

 

And making extreme use of the Lightroom dehaze slider adds some very unatural colours to the white feathers of a swan.

 

Blackberries are very early this year, but this bunch are holding back

 

Lots of reed beds at the swannery.

From Visit Dorset

Abbotsbury Swannery is the only place in the world where you are able to walk through the heart of a colony of nesting Mute Swans. A visit to this beautiful and tranquil place is one of the most popular things to do in Dorset.

Located on the dramatic Dorset Coast, this unique natural wildlife habitat is spread over a site of some 25 acres and is home to the only managed colony of free-flying mute swans in the world.

The 600-year-old swannery is a natural history paradise. The Swannery was established by Benedictine Monks who built a monastery at Abbotsbury in the 1940s.
During the nesting and hatching period (end May-end June), it is possible to be standing next to hatching eggs and if you’re very lucky, you may even witness a cygnet being born right before your eyes.

Visitors to the Swannery can help hand feed over 600 swans at 12.00 noon and 4.00pm daily, which is an experience not to be missed.

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Located on the dramatic Dorset coast, this unique natural wildlife habitat is also popular with film makers and has been used as a location for Harry Potter filming.

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