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Save the " Red Squirrel " click picture above   click for larger picture	The Swans at Cushendun   click for larger picture   SWAN RIVER   Excitement rippled around Cushendun in the month of Maywhen it was discovered that the two Swans who have graced our River for a few years, had nested and laid three eggs.   Around the 15th June, two cygnets arrived safe and well. They are now accompanying their parents down to the mouth of the River to feed.   Sitting at the side of the River, the other evening, I watched countless parents with children come to view, feed and photograph the Swan family.    The Swan parents tentatively took their young close to the riverbank to collect the titbits thrown to them.   One would say they knew “on which side their bread was buttered.”   One day some people were anxiously looking over the bridge as only the two adult Swans could be seen.   Suddenly one head then another popped up from the mother’s back, the young birds then hopped off into the water to feed!!   Visitors to Cushendun are enjoying this local attraction and adding them to their holiday photographic memories.   Marie Mort	NAME OUR CYGNETS COMPETITION   The winner of our competition to name the swans was :   J P McErlane   with the names   Conn and Fionnuala after the ‘Children of Lir’.    Runners-up.   Sinead McKeegan & Glenn & Sarah McCullough.   Many thanks to all who entered the competition.
		Our Family of Swans           Then                               Now
The Glens Angling Club   click picture for website
CDDA starts Bird Watching Group   click for larger picture	SWAN RIVER Update   1st July The Cygnets are now over two weeks old and beginning to look a bit like Ducks in size. They still go onto their parent’s backs and are being taken out into the Bay. The bridge was undergoing some structural work but this didn’t worry the swans – just more bread to eat – as they swam close to the workmen.   24th July Another three weeks has meant a great difference to the Cygnets, they have got so much bigger and their necks are starting to get longer. Danny Kaye’s song “The Ugly Duckling” could have been written for them but these two will not be told to “Get out of Town”. Mother, Father and Cygnets now swim across the Bay to Rockport.   11th August The Cygnets are now almost half the size of their parents although one is slightly smaller – could this be the female. Their fluffy down is making way for feathers – which they preen – and they are beginning to exercise their wings. The parent swans are now less protective as I noticed the two Cygnets swim up to the bridge with Mum and Dad watching from a distance.   25th September How the Cygnets have grown. They are now almost as big as their parents but at the minute, lack the white feathers but that will be the next stage.   Marie
	SWAN RIVER Update   18th October The two cygnets Conn and Fionnula are now able to fly!! When they are flying, the white feathers on their backs can be clearly seen. It will be sometime yet before they have their complete adult white plumage. The parents take them every day for a swim and fly out in the Bay.   4th November Before noon, approximately 8 swans were seen flying over the village towards Ballycastle mountain. Later on our Swans were nowhere to be seen, so it was assumed that they might have jointed the others. No, they were back in the evening, after visiting a garden in the Glendun Road. The lady and her grandson kindly fed them some bread before they made their way back down the river – That will be another visit in the future. The Swans seen flying over the village were also seen swimming on Loughareema.   8th November We have been duly informed that all four Swans now come up on to the harbour and eat from the hand!