Sunny Showery Sonning on Saturday

Ambled along the Thames Path to take photos of the warning signs posted by Wokingham Borough Council because of a wind-damaged oak tree leaning over the path and river (photo the Environment Agency or Wokingham Borough Council).

 

Sunlight glistened on the falling raindrops as a passing shower splattered into the breeze-rippled surface of the dark river. Black-headed gulls flew back and forth watching for fish surfacing to catch flies – which one’s the predator?

 

These umbellifers are magnificent alongside the river. Beautiful but deadly, I think these are Hemlock Water-dropwort and highly poisonous. Another good reason to not pick wild flowers, just enjoy them where they grow.

Ducked beneath the Grade II listed brick bridge, completed in 1775 to replace a wooden bridge which replaced a Saxon bridge. Here the river is the boundary between Wessex, to the south of the river, and Mercia to the north.

 

Always surprised by wildlife just turning up.  Swans are breeding very well in Lockdown times. No boats to wash away their nests and more underwater grasses and insects to feed the cygnets.  These eight are a healthy brood.

Do swans swim or paddle? They glide on the river’s surface, their strong legs and big webbed feet propelling them forward at speed.

Pen (the female) and cob (male) protecting these eight cygnets; young, fluffy and cheeping constantly to help strengthen the bonds between them and their parents. The adults are used to being fed by people, especially from boats. They swiftly glided past me and on to Elsie, a wide and elegant Edwardian boat by Hobbs of Henley.

 

Here they received more admiration and will soon feature in other people’s holiday photos and blogs.