Ecobird's photos with the keyword: ring

Ringing the Bell

05 Mar 2020 43 27 430
Taken at the Bishop's Palace, Wells, Somerset. Since the 1850's the swans here have been taught to ring the bell for food. In October 2018 the male swan, Brynn, died and his mate Wynn left with her cygnets. Two new swans named Janet and John were brought in from a Welsh rescue centre and taught to ring the bell in keeping with tradition. An appeal was made to the public for new, more appropriate, names for the pair and they were renamed Grace and Gabriel. (Grace because swans are so wonderfully graceful and Gabriel after the angel and because swans' wings are thought to look like angels' wings. In part it was also a reference to 'Sgt Angel' who chased a swan in the film 'Hot Fuzz' which was filmed in Wells) In this image the two pigeons amused me. It is almost as if they are saying 'You keep him busy at the front and we will sneak in the back door!'