Spring is here! First egg of the season arrives at Abbotsbury Swannery
Hundreds more are on the way
Spring is here! The first egg of the season has been laid at Abbotsbury Swannery.
It arrived at 8.20am yesterday morning, with hundreds more to now follow.
It marks the start of the egg laying season which usually starts in late April and ends in May.
But you'll have to wait another month before the cygnets hatch.
Traditionally, the hatching of the first cygnet at Abbotsbury marks the official start of summer.
The Swannery was established by Benedictine Monks who built a monastery at Abbotsbury during the 1040s. The monks farmed the swans to produce food for their lavish Dorset banquets.
Today, Abbotsbury is home to the world’s only colony of nesting Mute Swans.