The Blackest Swan

Our encounter last week with one particularly nasty swan was apparently not such an accident, at least as far as this bird goes. Tonight, as we dined river-side at The Waterman, we watched this foul fowl literally attack (wings flapping, charging at top speed) no less than a dozen rowing shells, all of which come out on the river in the early evening for team practice. It took two seconds of Googling to find a story about this bird, known locally, as Mr. Asbo (I'm not making this up). Here's a piece from the Telegraph, headline: Cambridge Rowers Ask Queen to Kill Violent Swan

Mr. Asbo nests nearby and has actually capsized rowers. In case you didn't know, swans are the property of the Queen, she even has an officer in charge of their well-being. I doubt this feathery white ball of storybook ferocity is being invited to the palace for tea anytime soon.

(photo credit: Mason's News Service)