THE first cygnets of 2016 have hatched safely at Abbotsbury Swannery – oblivious to a dramatic race against time to save their nests from flooding.

Very high spring tides and a strong wind threatened to swamp the waterside nesting ground, just as the first babies began to make their appearance.

The Abbotsbury swanherds swung into action and did what they could to bolster up the nests and avoid the eggs being washed away.

Swanherd Steve Groves said: “We have had very high spring tides this weekend, which is very late in the season. Combined with a strong south-easterly wind, the water was really being pushed up the Fleet.

“Usually if swans sense water lapping up to their nest they will reinforce them, but obviously at this stage there isn’t time for that, so we do what we can for them by pegging the nests in place with willow stakes and extra reed.

“Happily all the seven cygnets in nest number one are safe and dry and being looked after by their mother.

“The tides are still high, so we are keeping a close watch on the other nests. We are looking forward to cygnets hatching throughout May, with the frequency increasing and reaching a peak for the next bank holiday weekend at the end of the month.”

Despite the drama, the weekend’s warm weather adds weight to the Abbotsbury legend that the arrival of the first cygnet marks the start of summer.

The Swannery is the only place in the world where visitors can walk through a colony of mute swans, see cygnets hatching and learning to swim and participate in mass feedings.

The Abbotsbury swans have this year established around 87 nests.The swans lay their eggs at two day intervals and hatching takes place 35 days after the final egg of the clutch has been laid.

Each female or ‘pen’ lays an average of six eggs, up to a maximum of 13.

Visitors to the Swannery can walk safely along paths among the nests and spot the cygnets as well as take part in the twice-a-day mass-feeding.

Swanherds feed the adult swans twice a day on wheat grains while the cygnets are fed three times daily on chick crumb, a crushed pellet full of protein. Their parents also feed the cygnets algae, other vegetation and grubs.