The swansfavourite stretch of the river at Stratford on Avon is between the tramway bridge and the chain ferry. That is where there are the richest pickings of offerings from tourists.
On my occasional visits to the town, there always seems to be one pair of swans on this stretch which distinguish themselves by swimming up and down this short length with their wings curled high. It looks like they are using their wings as sails. Actually, I think, it’s a threat posture – it makes the bodies look larger.
It seems always to be the same pair, a pen and a cob. Sometimes they swim apart from the other birds, separately or together; sometimes with the big group of swans which forms. Occasionally they even seem to be with groups of the geese.