I've just had the misfortune of seeing a cob killing a gosling and speaking to another member it's killed three others and left the male goose with barely any tail feathers. I've been carp fishing seriously since 2006 and have fished loads of waters with swans on before but have never witnessed them actually killing other wild fowl. I've obviously seen there aggressive side towards other birds before but that was pretty savage to watch.
I was wondering if it will kill the rest theres only two left out of the five that were swimming around last week. I know they are aggressive and territorial and could understand if the was a female with cygnets with him but there is none its just him by himself and they pose no risk to him whatsoever. He is not worried about the coots or mallards just these poor Canadian geese.
I was wondering if it will kill the rest theres only two left out of the five that were swimming around last week. I know they are aggressive and territorial and could understand if the was a female with cygnets with him but there is none its just him by himself and they pose no risk to him whatsoever. He is not worried about the coots or mallards just these poor Canadian geese.
In reply to Post #1
It's a tough world mate. I saw a returning adult kill his own off spring who had remained over winter.
It's a tough world mate. I saw a returning adult kill his own off spring who had remained over winter.
In reply to Post #1
I've seen swans drown other birds before." Nature red in tooth and claw"
Also in beak. It's not nice to see but it's real life.
I've seen swans drown other birds before." Nature red in tooth and claw"
Also in beak. It's not nice to see but it's real life.
In reply to Post #3
Thats what this was doing it had by the back off the head and just would not let it up it broke free once and the cob grabbed it again but this time put his body over the back of the gosling effectively dunking the whole thing under water there was no chance of it wriggling free.
Thats what this was doing it had by the back off the head and just would not let it up it broke free once and the cob grabbed it again but this time put his body over the back of the gosling effectively dunking the whole thing under water there was no chance of it wriggling free.
I'm sure it wasn't nice to witness, but that is nature at its terrible self. We shouldn't interfere with it really.
In reply to Post #1
A lake I fish does not have a single Canadian goose on it,the male swan will not let any land.I watched him one evening chase a goose for hours,I have to admit its very nice not having any on the water though.
A lake I fish does not have a single Canadian goose on it,the male swan will not let any land.I watched him one evening chase a goose for hours,I have to admit its very nice not having any on the water though.
In reply to Post #1
Time of year mate. They will be chasing last years young off ready for this years brood. Very aggressive at this time of year and anything that gets in their way will cop for it. I once fished one water for a few years and there was a dominant pair on there, used to chase all the others off and every year the same routine. They will be up and down the lake with the wings held wide, puffed up, dominant display to make them look bigger.
Time of year mate. They will be chasing last years young off ready for this years brood. Very aggressive at this time of year and anything that gets in their way will cop for it. I once fished one water for a few years and there was a dominant pair on there, used to chase all the others off and every year the same routine. They will be up and down the lake with the wings held wide, puffed up, dominant display to make them look bigger.
In reply to Post #1
Only witnessed it a few times before and that was on Abington trout lakes, the cob killed a female duck and all 12 of her young, did one then moved on the the next one, horrid to watch, other time was a coot, it wiped out 3 moorhen broods in 2 days
Only witnessed it a few times before and that was on Abington trout lakes, the cob killed a female duck and all 12 of her young, did one then moved on the the next one, horrid to watch, other time was a coot, it wiped out 3 moorhen broods in 2 days
In reply to Post #8
All part of nature and one of the pleasures of going fishing, you get to see it as it is. I've seen them eat dead roach and all sorts over the years. I used to feed them, in the winter had them virtually under my brolly with me on many a days. Used to feed the mallards too, takes a while but you can get them taking baits out of your hands. What is amazing is how quick a boiled bait can pass though a duck, liquid crap in a few minutes, stinks. I think it's down to the high amino content
All part of nature and one of the pleasures of going fishing, you get to see it as it is. I've seen them eat dead roach and all sorts over the years. I used to feed them, in the winter had them virtually under my brolly with me on many a days. Used to feed the mallards too, takes a while but you can get them taking baits out of your hands. What is amazing is how quick a boiled bait can pass though a duck, liquid crap in a few minutes, stinks. I think it's down to the high amino content
In reply to Post #1
It will have the other 2 if they dont leave. I've seen lots of this, brutal, but completely natural.
It will have the other 2 if they dont leave. I've seen lots of this, brutal, but completely natural.
I always thought swans mated for life,that's not true apparently either.If the male gets pissed off it will kill the female and find a new Mrs.
In reply to Post #11
I think most of us feel like that at some point
I think most of us feel like that at some point
In reply to Post #11
Never knew that Braders
Funny what you learn whilst fishing. I fished one water and there were loads on it, mind you though it was about 80 acre, bit of a sanctuary for them so different behaviours, they seemed to live in harmony. Great though when I used to fish there, a couple of little old ladies used to come with a couple of loafs on a regular basis and proceeded to feed them near me on a few occasions, brilliant experience with around 50 swans thrashing around your swim and going through your lines
Never knew that Braders
Funny what you learn whilst fishing. I fished one water and there were loads on it, mind you though it was about 80 acre, bit of a sanctuary for them so different behaviours, they seemed to live in harmony. Great though when I used to fish there, a couple of little old ladies used to come with a couple of loafs on a regular basis and proceeded to feed them near me on a few occasions, brilliant experience with around 50 swans thrashing around your swim and going through your lines
In reply to Post #13
Only takes them wiping all your rods out at bite time once to start enjoying watching swan fights
Only takes them wiping all your rods out at bite time once to start enjoying watching swan fights
In reply to Post #14
I kid you not mate, it was a proper hike to where I was fishing, near on the other side of the lake from the carp park. In front of the car park there were pontoons for boats where people used to feed all the ducks from. Not the nice little old ladies, used to walk round the lake and feed them in the swim that I was fishing, unreal! If i did not know any different I would have thought they were doing it on a purpose bless them. As soon as one started feeding they were crash landing into the swim from a far. Good job I'm a swan lover, crackers, you have to laugh
I fished one water and they knew what bait was big time. It was quite shallow, if they saw the bait go in you might as well go home. They would be just tales up up and down the swim, lines dint bother them either, just use to pull it off the spool, shake it off and crack on, frustrating at times I must admit but all part of been there I suppose
I also fished another water and it had a couple of Australian black swans on. Me and my mate used to laugh at them, they could see the line going into the water, you could see them looking at it, they used to swim towards us and go under the rods to avoid it. Fascinating stuff really. Fished it again a few years later with my mate, different story, they knew what bait was and were not bothered about lines anymore
I kid you not mate, it was a proper hike to where I was fishing, near on the other side of the lake from the carp park. In front of the car park there were pontoons for boats where people used to feed all the ducks from. Not the nice little old ladies, used to walk round the lake and feed them in the swim that I was fishing, unreal! If i did not know any different I would have thought they were doing it on a purpose bless them. As soon as one started feeding they were crash landing into the swim from a far. Good job I'm a swan lover, crackers, you have to laugh
I fished one water and they knew what bait was big time. It was quite shallow, if they saw the bait go in you might as well go home. They would be just tales up up and down the swim, lines dint bother them either, just use to pull it off the spool, shake it off and crack on, frustrating at times I must admit but all part of been there I suppose
I also fished another water and it had a couple of Australian black swans on. Me and my mate used to laugh at them, they could see the line going into the water, you could see them looking at it, they used to swim towards us and go under the rods to avoid it. Fascinating stuff really. Fished it again a few years later with my mate, different story, they knew what bait was and were not bothered about lines anymore
In reply to Post #13
I only know because a lake I fished had a huge male and one day I saw it drowning the female.The lake owner said he had killed his partner before.I don't know if it is true but this one had definitely had enough.Can you imagine if we could do that, lcome on love I'm taking you a walk down the canal
I only know because a lake I fished had a huge male and one day I saw it drowning the female.The lake owner said he had killed his partner before.I don't know if it is true but this one had definitely had enough.Can you imagine if we could do that, lcome on love I'm taking you a walk down the canal
In reply to Post #16
I've seen them have hold of others by the neck trying to drown them but have never seen one finish the task
Agree Braders, I bet your lass would love to throw you in
I've seen them have hold of others by the neck trying to drown them but have never seen one finish the task
Agree Braders, I bet your lass would love to throw you in
In reply to Post #17
If I went in there would be no water left to drown me in
If I went in there would be no water left to drown me in
In reply to Post #17
The holding of the neck is also part of the mating ritual and can take place at any time...what a way to go!
EDIT, after a quick search Hannibal the Swan
The holding of the neck is also part of the mating ritual and can take place at any time...what a way to go!
EDIT, after a quick search Hannibal the Swan
In reply to Post #19
Are you one of them weirdos who likes to be strangled while being ****ed
Are you one of them weirdos who likes to be strangled while being ****ed
In reply to Post #18
Crackers
Crackers
In reply to Post #19
Wow, sounds like he got a bit carried away that lad!
Saying that they are funny things birds, light as a feather, pardon the pun, but can be quite powerful. Nasty bird then in this case. Like I mentioned below this time of they year they will have had most of the others off by now but they are trance like when they are in fight mode and it's endless
Tell you what I always used to think, imagine a coot the size of a swan
All they seem to do is scrap all day long, they do like a drama
Wow, sounds like he got a bit carried away that lad!
Saying that they are funny things birds, light as a feather, pardon the pun, but can be quite powerful. Nasty bird then in this case. Like I mentioned below this time of they year they will have had most of the others off by now but they are trance like when they are in fight mode and it's endless
Tell you what I always used to think, imagine a coot the size of a swan
All they seem to do is scrap all day long, they do like a drama
In reply to Post #1
I was fishing the Coppermill Stream at Walthamstow three years back and saw the female swan holding a Canada goose by the tail feathers and the male swan literally stood on the body of the goose and between the pair of them drowned it.
The whole thing took about five minutes.
Awful to see but it's just nature.
I was fishing the Coppermill Stream at Walthamstow three years back and saw the female swan holding a Canada goose by the tail feathers and the male swan literally stood on the body of the goose and between the pair of them drowned it.
The whole thing took about five minutes.
Awful to see but it's just nature.
In reply to Post #23
I used to watch the swans on my lake every day for 11 years in France, we had a pair on the lake which were there before I was there and the same pair are there now 8 years after I sold up. The male was vicious and didn´t take any prisoners, if any other swans tried to land on the lake they didn´t stay there long by choice or by misfortune! It was fascinating to watch the cygnets being taught how to fly and then when they could they had to move , never saw the pair of swans kill the ducks or coots though!
I used to watch the swans on my lake every day for 11 years in France, we had a pair on the lake which were there before I was there and the same pair are there now 8 years after I sold up. The male was vicious and didn´t take any prisoners, if any other swans tried to land on the lake they didn´t stay there long by choice or by misfortune! It was fascinating to watch the cygnets being taught how to fly and then when they could they had to move , never saw the pair of swans kill the ducks or coots though!
We had a swan called Arnie , had a very thick neck and looked like it was on steroids .
This horrible bird killed all the Canada geese young year after year .
It was bulked up by a diet of boilies and probably E numbers , it would explain it being deranged .
Then one year the Canada geese with their young was resting in my swim and this Arnie landed from a high flight trajectory slap bang in my swim .
The Canada geese rounded up their young while one squared up to Arnie while the other with the young made a retreat out the back of the swim .
This geese squaring up to Arnie was losing feathers. and being on the receiving end of a good biting and beating that got me so pissed off that I had a go at the swan as this bag of crap had murdered far too many young chicks .
Rather than be cruel and give it a dry slap I egged 🥚 it with two large ones .
It spent the rest of the day sulking cleaning it's feathers .
Obviously it will upset PC brigade but on another water anglers dealt with them permanently.
They should be culled as far too many of them .
Up Newbury along the canals you can't walk into town as they attack you , hundreds of them .
All the other bird life suffers on any lake with poxy swans .
Watching them kill for the sake of it after other birds trying to look after their young you have to draw a line .
Some lakes they dare not land and disappear strangely , some members just won't tolerate them and move them on .
Arnie was the only one that pissed me off as it was a pure killing machine .
He was later found in the bushes and the foxes 🦊 obviously feasted on him .
Nature is a cruel world when you witness what goes on .
This horrible bird killed all the Canada geese young year after year .
It was bulked up by a diet of boilies and probably E numbers , it would explain it being deranged .
Then one year the Canada geese with their young was resting in my swim and this Arnie landed from a high flight trajectory slap bang in my swim .
The Canada geese rounded up their young while one squared up to Arnie while the other with the young made a retreat out the back of the swim .
This geese squaring up to Arnie was losing feathers. and being on the receiving end of a good biting and beating that got me so pissed off that I had a go at the swan as this bag of crap had murdered far too many young chicks .
Rather than be cruel and give it a dry slap I egged 🥚 it with two large ones .
It spent the rest of the day sulking cleaning it's feathers .
Obviously it will upset PC brigade but on another water anglers dealt with them permanently.
They should be culled as far too many of them .
Up Newbury along the canals you can't walk into town as they attack you , hundreds of them .
All the other bird life suffers on any lake with poxy swans .
Watching them kill for the sake of it after other birds trying to look after their young you have to draw a line .
Some lakes they dare not land and disappear strangely , some members just won't tolerate them and move them on .
Arnie was the only one that pissed me off as it was a pure killing machine .
He was later found in the bushes and the foxes 🦊 obviously feasted on him .
Nature is a cruel world when you witness what goes on .
My club lake has one very dominant aggressive swan. Always seems to be peeved off about something, constantly charging from one end to the other seeing off various other birds.
Was quite funny last year as a massive group (im talking around 60) Canadian geese decided to try and make home on the water and he literally kept them all pinned into a tiny bay at one end. Got to the point in the middle of summer when the bites were mostly at night we were betting how far they would work there way down the lake before he'd come and "round them up"
Have never seen him attack anything though, all the other birds just stay well clear!
Was quite funny last year as a massive group (im talking around 60) Canadian geese decided to try and make home on the water and he literally kept them all pinned into a tiny bay at one end. Got to the point in the middle of summer when the bites were mostly at night we were betting how far they would work there way down the lake before he'd come and "round them up"
Have never seen him attack anything though, all the other birds just stay well clear!
In reply to Post #26
That's an interesting one Canada geese. As much as I am a wildlife lover they are not native to this country and some waters near me, one in particular they are like vermin. far, far, far too many. There are a couple of flocks that seem to come on the water, probably well over 100 birds. There is goose crap everywhere and I mean everywhere, it's disgusting. This is when there needs to be a bit of sensible management for me 
That's an interesting one Canada geese. As much as I am a wildlife lover they are not native to this country and some waters near me, one in particular they are like vermin. far, far, far too many. There are a couple of flocks that seem to come on the water, probably well over 100 birds. There is goose crap everywhere and I mean everywhere, it's disgusting. This is when there needs to be a bit of sensible management for me
In reply to Post #26
I can just remember my Mum pushing my younger brother in his pram around a local park. I could have only been 5 or 6. There were a couple of swans on the lake, and one of them reared up and came hissing across the lake straight at my old Mum. It stopped just short of attacking her.
She was terrified, didn't do a lot for me either.
I've never really trusted swans since then.
Give me a nice moorhen any day of the week.
I can just remember my Mum pushing my younger brother in his pram around a local park. I could have only been 5 or 6. There were a couple of swans on the lake, and one of them reared up and came hissing across the lake straight at my old Mum. It stopped just short of attacking her.
She was terrified, didn't do a lot for me either.
I've never really trusted swans since then.
Give me a nice moorhen any day of the week.
In reply to Post #25
Was the the same Arnie from the pan Fred ?
Was the the same Arnie from the pan Fred ?
Hooked a big cob in the foot last year. Flapped a bit coming in but when I caught hold of him by the leg he just went all limp and pathetic. Took the hook out and he scuttled off. Lot of show, no go.
In reply to Post #30
Me and a mate netted one years ago that had line so tight around it's neck it wasn't able to feed, once we got hold of it's neck it did exactly the same thing and played dead, obviously started giving it the big one after we'd let it go but that's because Swans are complete ****s
Me and a mate netted one years ago that had line so tight around it's neck it wasn't able to feed, once we got hold of it's neck it did exactly the same thing and played dead, obviously started giving it the big one after we'd let it go but that's because Swans are complete ****s
In reply to Post #27
Westport lake in Staffordshire is like that,there is a park for the children to play on absolutely surrounded by them and their crap everywhere.It definitely needs something doing down there
Westport lake in Staffordshire is like that,there is a park for the children to play on absolutely surrounded by them and their crap everywhere.It definitely needs something doing down there
In reply to Post #32
Christ im really getting to see the dark side of nature on this session. After seeing the swan killing a gosling yesterday ive just witnessed a coot about kill a tiny moorhen chick that had fallen over the sluice of the lake behind and got washed straight in to my swim. Thats the second one in 24hrs I had already put one back in the other lake yesterday evening that had got washed over but this one swam straight over to a coots nest and the female is on eggs and the male was on it straight away. I tried keeping it away from the chick with my tufty torch which worked for a couple of minutes then it just ignored it and grabbed to chick. I did not actually watch it kill the chick as I did want to watch the poor thing being killed but it did not take long as stuck my head out the bivvy about a minute later and it was already dead the poor thing was tiny. Im just wondering what gory display nature will be putting on for me next.
Christ im really getting to see the dark side of nature on this session. After seeing the swan killing a gosling yesterday ive just witnessed a coot about kill a tiny moorhen chick that had fallen over the sluice of the lake behind and got washed straight in to my swim. Thats the second one in 24hrs I had already put one back in the other lake yesterday evening that had got washed over but this one swam straight over to a coots nest and the female is on eggs and the male was on it straight away. I tried keeping it away from the chick with my tufty torch which worked for a couple of minutes then it just ignored it and grabbed to chick. I did not actually watch it kill the chick as I did want to watch the poor thing being killed but it did not take long as stuck my head out the bivvy about a minute later and it was already dead the poor thing was tiny. Im just wondering what gory display nature will be putting on for me next.
In reply to Post #29
Nah Alders years ago
Nah Alders years ago
Mute Swans may be beautiful birds, but boy are they a pain in the butt.
Swim through lines, raid bait buckets just inside the bivvy door, pinch spod mix as you are baiting up.
A couple of years ago I saw the cob from a pair attack a young swan that flew in and landed in his territory. The young swan was scalped and nearly drowned by him until eventually he got away.
I've seen them attack Canada geese, drown goslings and ducklings and attack dogs.
Swim through lines, raid bait buckets just inside the bivvy door, pinch spod mix as you are baiting up.
A couple of years ago I saw the cob from a pair attack a young swan that flew in and landed in his territory. The young swan was scalped and nearly drowned by him until eventually he got away.
I've seen them attack Canada geese, drown goslings and ducklings and attack dogs.
In reply to Post #34
I thought Arnie was the big white Mallard? Used to sit on a rock in the corner on the Tescos bank?
I thought Arnie was the big white Mallard? Used to sit on a rock in the corner on the Tescos bank?
Reading ALL pages