General Discussion

According to the Duck Warden the seagulls have taken 17 black swan eggs to date so far this spring and despite various TV and newspaper reports no one seems to care.

I don't understand why seagulls are protected and black swans are not. Seagulls are a pest here in the Dawlish and probably so in most of the UK. Black swans are very rare in the UK and should have a higher protected status than seagulls.

A bit harsh to say no one cares, and it's certainly not true that it's the end of the black swans!!! Two cygnets are nearing adulthood, for a start. That said, the gulls are a pest and, together with the pigeons that blight the boardwalk, their numbers need controlling.

Has anyone checked the Teign Estuary? I spotted a black swan there about 3 weeks ago - are they going further afield for nesting?

2 black swans spotted off the coast at Teignmouth this afternoon. Does the warden know?

Seagulls are vermin and should be treated as such.

It was good to see the latest two cygnets being cared for in the bird pen today. That's four this year that should grow to adulthood and grace our town for years to come.