Royal Canal near Broombridge - Angry Swan!

Happens every year. The cygnets must have hatched. Just go quickly and confidently putting as much distance between you and the swan as possible on the narrow path.

It's utterly terrifying.

We stopped on bikes at the weekend for a look here as the female was on the nest which was cool to see. Male just stayed close by in the water but as soon as we got on the bikes to cycle away he chased us in the water for a good 50m or so.

There's another nest down at Shandon although it's on the opposite/South side and out in the open which seemed strange.

It's a fine gauntlet at the moment with the odd scrambler and group of chungfellas to contend with also.

There's a few on the Grand Canal now too. I was watching the male build throw sticks out from the undergrowth toward a nest the other day. Was pretty cool.

Now the last few mornings, she's been sitting on the nest, and he's standing guard. A few people fly past too close, but most slow right down and give them a wide berth. A stop go system if coming from different directions as well.

Let's change the name on the thread to 'protective swan' - they are not 'angry' but like all wild animals will assume you are out to do harm if you come near its nest at this time of year. There has been a myriad of cases here of swans being attacked by scumbags with crossbows, catapults etc to suggest that their wariness of humans is justified.

These are large birds but be sensible and all is well. Live and let live......

I dont know the area, but you should be able to get past the swan without any issue, just be assertive, without making any fuss or shouting or waving your arms about etc; if in doubt, get off and walk the bike briskly past him keeping it between you and him. You could always bring some green vegetables (but NOT bread....) with you and throw them for him and may get distracted but thank you......

WadeWatts wrote: »

Is this still an issue? I've been avoiding the area and heading along the navan road instead but would like to get back to a pleasant canal cycle

I walk past him every morning. It's fine. He's either in the water or on the path at a point where its wide enough to easily give him a wide berth.

If we're still talking about the Broombridge swans, the nest this year is on the south bank in a very inaccessible spot. The cob doesn't seem to have fully appreciated this and still patrols the north (towpath) bank. Walking the dog along there has been ok but I saw an Alsatian and its owner being seriously intimidated when they stopped on the jetty opposite the nest. Cycling generally hasn't been a problem.

The nests at Shandon and just below Cross Guns bridge are also on the south bank with no problems on the towpath. I haven't seen the otters along there for a while but I don't think the swans can be blamed for that.

No new arrivals yet at the 8th lock nest just upstream from Broombridge. The cob is still taking his nest guarding duties pretty seriously.