With the sun out it was a short walk along the canal, the emphasis was on short as this is the famous Hissing Sid, a large swan not to be taken lightly. Sid may be graceful on water but stood on the bank he becomes Mr. Grumpy to anyone that approaches,
My path ahead would have been just inches in front of him and I was sure he was looking for a fight. As you get nearer his wings begin to spread out and the hissing starts to get louder. He bends his head forward in a way that says "Just you try it".
Needless to say I took this picture from a short distance away and decided not to go any further. He had already spotted me and ruffled his tail feathers as you can see from the white stuff floating in the air. Oh! and food doesn't help either, although I haven't tried him with one of my pies, can you roast swan if you have a big enough roast tray.
Our colours are very similar today. Roast Swan may be the answer for this one. Wonder what has made him so bitter? Early Cygnet experiences? Way ward parents? But he does look very handsome tucked into his little corner of the canal?
Yes, you can roast a swan. Think you just have to send a nice bit of it in a sandwich, with some chutney, to the Queen and explain that one of her swans was being aggressive. HRH will consider that you have dealt appropriately with a traitor, and you'll probably be made a Dame next year...
Sensible you, I was chased by an irate cob as I came round a corner and got too close to his cygnets. I seemed to remember the skill that made me school high jump champion as I vaulted a wall to escape!!
