Wednesday 15th January (press for video Graphic content)

We were called out today to rescue a swan after it was hit by a London tube train.

Amazingly she was still alive when i arrived and a quick rescue was carried out.

Fantastic work by the Piccadilly line station and service controlstaff who were ready and waiting for our arrival.

The benefits of working for London Underground enabled me to contact the right people to allow me safe access onto the track.

The swan was safely transported to the Shepperton Swan Sanctuary where she will under go wing surgery.

30th December 2024

This morning I had the pleasure of transporting a Great Crested Grebe that had landed on a road late last night and was reported as not being able to walk

Grebes are so adapted to life on the water and diving under it to fish that they find themselves incredibly clumsy on land and because their legs are set so far back on their bodies they struggle to stand or walk. Subsequently, when they find themselves away from water, reporters often mistake them as being injured or having leg or back problems

This little one was taken to the Swan Sanctuary to be checked over and as it was in good health it was agreed that it should be released back on to water as close to where it was found as soon as possible. The postcode where it was found was 2 kilometres away from the nearest lake but from there it could stay or fly to find its home

A fellow rescuer, Ruhee from the correct area very kindly collected from the Sanctuary just after I left and released where it happily swam off, giving a good dive of thanks

I feel very privileged to have seen one of theses beautiful birds so close up, although it is definitely worth noting they are feisty birds with very long sharp beaks 💚🪶🫶🏻

19th & 20th November 2024

Daisy’s parents and 4 siblings decided to fly off yesterday morning and left her to fend for herself. She was the smallest of all the cygnets and was not keeping up with flying lessons and after reports of a cygnet crash landing I suspect it was her and had sustained some bruising.

Off I went last night to check if they had flown back in to rejoin her but there she was completely alone in the dark, off the water and calling for her family so home she came so I could observe overnight and check to see what injuries if any she had that would have prevented her from flying with them.

Family not returned and I was unhappy about the alignment of her tail so off to the The Swan Sanctuary she went and will get the care she needs, plenty of good food and the company she craves from other swans her age 🦢

She went in a pen with Fluffy and instantly decided he would be her friend. Fluffy is looking great, a confident cygnet who is eating the Sanctuary out of house and home and seems happy to be there… always good for me to see rescues I have taken in thriving 💚

17th November 2024

It’s that time of year when calls come in for cygnets that have been chased off their territories by their parents. This gorgeous boy had been picked on not only by his parents but also his 4 siblings so was very ready to be rescued and taken to the The Swan Sanctuary for some R&R and some good food 💚

Clearly exhausted from his experience, he was just up for a good preen and sleep when he got there but is expected to recover quickly and be released onto the nursery pond to make lots of new friends in the coming days 🦢

Whilst there I checked on Fluffy, taking his favourite sweetcorn with me to share with his roommates. He is doing well and seemed very attached already to another cygnet 🦢💚🦢

16th November 2024

Having monitored Fluffy over the last few days, today the decision was made to relocate him to The Swan Sanctuary where he can be around cygnets his own age and learn some new skills 🦢

Being an only child in the swan world is tough and with inexperienced parents he was not being taught the skills he needs to survive in the wild, fly to get himself out of danger and although they loved him to bits he was spending more and more time left alone and a bit down in the dumps.  He was also off lake for long periods on his own and in the path of off the lead dogs.

It is incredibly tough for those who love and care for him to see him go, myself included, but as always it has to be what is best for the swan and personal feelings have to be set aside.

As soon as I got to the Sanctuary, any doubt I had evaporated, he was so happy to be around other cygnets and am really hoping he will thrive, gain some muscle from flapping those wings and put on a few more pounds from his 6.35kg starting position.

10th November 2024

Whilst dropping Bruiser to the The Swan Sanctuary a call came in reporting that a cygnet had landed and was sat on the pavement of a very busy road in Hampton Hill.

Off I went and had to park in the local Sainsbury’s and run over as although it doesn’t look it just in front of of me it was 4 lanes and at the Sainsbury’s junction it became 6 and incredibly busy. He may have been sitting quietly awaiting pick up but as soon as he saw me he was up and about to make a dash for it. No time to lose in these situations and with a danger of him running into the traffic I soon had him secured and back to the Sanctuary where the police had been ringing to ask if a cygnet had been found as one was missing today from Hampton Court Palace 💜👑💜 he had a BTO ring so will quickly be identified and it is very likely to be the missing Prince. I definitely felt he had a posh voice.

Today made me realise just how far I have come as a rescuer in the last 9 months and I never take for granted the privilege it is to be working with and helping these beautiful birds 💚🦢💚

9th & 10th November 2024

Busy couple of days that started with a cygnet who had landed in a residential road and was sat in the middle of it! When I arrived half an hour later no one had stayed to watch over her or attempt to move her to safety and she was nowhere to be seen. Scoured the area and have been no further reporting so can assume she had a rest and off she went on her adventures 🦢💚🦢

Today started with a male canada goose who was reported to have a broken leg. When I arrived he went straight back in to the water so a boat was needed to rescue but I could tell that there was a lot more going on than just a single leg issue as he found it hard to coordinate his wings and was swimming very lopsided.

In the boat I got with Sharon and her colleague who had stayed until I got there to take me out on the water. Net in hand and leaning over as far as I could I soon had him secured in the boat. He has damaged his back probably from crash landing, had incredibly cold legs with little circulation so is now safe at the The Swan Sanctuary receiving pain relief, a comfy bed, a good buffet and expert care 🧡🪿🧡

2nd & 3rd November 2024

4 lives saved this weekend, 2 swans were admitted to the sanctuary due to their injuries.

Both are expected to make a full recovery and be released with the sanctuary flock.

The 2 others were able to be released rather quicker, 1 having an overnight stay in one of our rescuers swan b&b and the other, after a stroll up the high street was carried back to her nearby river.

November 1st 2024

Today took us to this beautiful girl who had been carrying a rather nasty hook with a significant length of line.

Disgarded fishing tackle entaglements take up more than 60% of our calls and can be extremley dangerous for all waterbirds and animals.

We have attended many calls where birds and mamals, including domestic pets have died due to being snagged on and drowned or having swallowed the hooks and tackle causing internatal damage.

However, this female Canada Goose was a lucky one, Safely rescued, hook and line removed she was quickly popped down to the Shepperton Swan Sanctuary for a precautionary once over.

After a check, a wound clean up, some antibiotic pain relief she was back on her way home to be with her mate and family.

26th October 2024 had us rescuing a beautiful Australian swan with a leg injury

Thankfully no breaks or entanglements.

After several days of observation and no water therapy improvements the decision was made to rescue this beautiful girl to the sanctuary..

I had been monitoring this swan for a while, since March as she had put up residence on a lake with a dominant pair, and it was pretty violent earlier in the year when nesting started.. but i was always unable to entice her over and the lake is huge...

After the pair were unsuccessful the violence calmed but no doubt it would return so opportunity knocked..

it is illegal to release Australian swans into the wild in the UK but so many people seem to have took ownership of them, via breeding or other non legal means.. 

Although they may survive, just, in the wild we are not aware of a successful mating pair.

Beautiful to look at, beautiful to listen too, but cruel to see them as pets.

21st October 2024

Once again we were called out to a swan that had been shot and killed what can only be described as an cowardly act of evilness

If you wintness an attack on wildlife please call 999

If you come across a dead animal that shows signs of wildlife crime please call 101.

You can always send us the crime reference number via our comments section