Well, had a post on previously about a swan who brought back another swan to our mill pond and they stayed and I hoped they would leave as they were already acting a bit aggressive. Today OH found one of them at the end of the pond where it is very shallow at its inlet, dead.
We think it possibly died and then was fed on by a heron (of which there are many here). It looks like it has had its heart plucked out - just a hole about the size of the palm of your hand. That's what the herons do to the ducks here. He also saw the other swan up on the river (where we never see them, they're always on the pond) possibly looking for its mate. Dead one is ringed and so we will call the SSPCA tomorrow if they need to collect it. Didn't look like there had been a battle. We thought that the swans were taking it turn about to come up and feed, the other one staying on the pond as they were 'claiming' it. Perhaps it was always the same one feeding and the other starved to death? Don't know. Doesn't look like foul play (excuse pun) but odd all the same.
Glad they will not be there I must admit, but didn't want to see it like that either poor thing, very sad.