Attack swan on the Fossdyke Navigation

A group of swans swam down the river and followed us, attacking our kayak. Despite heading well away from them, the male followed us, and brought the family to watch while he harassed us, & tried to prove himself.

[@terrystrahl6006]

Is this an extension of "Dumb and Dumber" !!

[@IcedDog]

I'm surprised papa swan didn't hiss...they're usually quite fond of that =)

[@amydovaston2140]

Not trying to be mean but that was a really good video those swans are sooooooo cute love this video

[@DarrylLeaning]

Amy Dovaston they don't feel cute when they fly at, and try to bite you. the worst part wasn't in frame :)

[@Paka1918]

+Darryl Leaning He only defends his family.

[@jt21419]

No he isn't. He's going after people who are paddling away from his family. The moment you veer away is usually when they get the most aggressive. Rings a bell.

[@jt21419]

Typical of swans attacking from the rear. You're lucky it didn't follow you for a mile.

[@DarrylLeaning]

james_gats I am on the river/canals a lot, and they do normally wait for you to pass before trying their luck. I'd say (fortunately) that less than one in twenty encounters result in any aggressiveness. Normally it's just this time of year when the little ones have hatched. :)

[@jt21419]

I was just in a stretch of river where I was attacked 4 times by 4 different swans. The first attack make me keel over and the swan kept cruising between me and my kayak full of water on the one hand, and the side of the river where I needed to go to empty it on the other end. My kayak was red-coloured, I wonder whether it may have played a part. It was a week-day and I had the river all to myself. This may also have played a part. I don't see how those swans could have attacked the many kayaks going down the river over the week-ends. Next time I'm on that stretch of river I'll carry a stick.

[@DarrylLeaning]

My Kayak is red. I was just on a river this weekend (River Idle) and there were 7 swans ahead of us. A couple of them chanced it to try to get back upriver past us. The others paddled for miles (about 5 miles!) in front, waiting for an opportunity to return. They only swam back after we took the boats out the river for a break. Summary: Not all swans are aggressive. Normally its when they have signets or near breeding season and they are in male/female pairs

[@JOHN----DOE]

"Go away now." That is exactly what the swan is saying to YOU. DO it.