Dawlish's black swan lose nests in floods

At least 10 eggs washed away

Wildlife watchers in Dawlish have been left devastated after a deluge of flood water washed away two nests belonging to the town’s world-famous black swans.

At least 10 eggs were lost as the torrent through the brook in the middle of the town swept the nests away.

The adult black swans – named Burt and Kimber – have survived the effects of Storm Chandra, but their eggs have gone.

The news was confirmed in a YouTube video posted online by Coast Cams and Black Swans of Dawlish.

The YouTubers wrote: “Nature can be both beautiful and unforgiving, and moments like this remind us just how vulnerable wildlife can be when extreme weather arrives without pause.”

The storm felled trees and damaged sea defences across Devon, while days of torrential rain led to severe flooding. In the days following the storm, millions of gallons of water poured from high ground into rivers and streams.

YouTuber ‘Cams Man’ shared the news, saying: “Last night brought flooding on a scale we rarely see here, and with deep sadness, we can confirm that both swans’ nests have been lost.

“Hours of relentless, torrential rain caused the brook to breach its banks, sending a powerful surge of water through the area and sweeping away both nesting sites. Despite careful preparation earlier in the season, including Waterways Around the Dawlish Environment (WADE) raising the island where Burt and Kimber chose to nest, the force of this flood was simply too great. In conditions like these, nothing stood a chance.

“Burt and Kimber did everything they could, and for a time, the raised island gave hope. Sadly, the water had the final say.”

Cams Man says some people had been frustrated that the nest wasn’t moved to a safer place, but pointed out that it is illegal to move or disturb a nest with eggs. 

“We know many of you have followed this journey closely and will feel this loss deeply,” he adds.

The birds are Australian black swans and have been the official emblem of Dawlish for decades. They were first introduced to the town in 1906, and were re-introduced in the late 1940s after the original line had died out.