Yes, it was another busy day for Precious, with his mate serenely settled on her nest of six eggs (yes, six! We counted them the other morning when she left them for a couple of minutes’ break).

Precious had taken up his station in the middle of the road by the wetlands, keeping a beady eye on everyone who came by, ensuring that there wasn’t undue loitering unless authorized (by him). Time passed, and even a warrior like Precious gets pretty tired standing for long periods of time, and he finally lay down with a great PLOP!

Passers-by chuckled as he extended his long neck - bill open, just in case they might be close enough for a “nip.” They went around him each time, and he eventually settled in to enjoy the warmth of the sun.

Realizing that there were no challengers to his defence post, our swan-senior enjoyed the longest strrrrrrrretch ever, first one side – then the other, before returning to his mate’s company by the nest, sentry duty over for another day.