Swan is seen leaving a Waitrose in Somerset
This swan was spotted leaving a Waitrose in Portishead, Somerset
With a gaggle of cygnets back at the nest, the modern mummy swan has no time to be hunting for food these days – it’s far easier to pay a quick visit to the supermarket.
Not that today’s swan goes to any old supermarket of course. Being the most middle class of birds it is naturally drawn to Waitrose.
This one was spotted leaving a branch in Portishead, Somerset – albeit with only a bill (on her face) on this occasion.
A couple of weeks ago, two other swans were seen making their way across a pedestrian crossing towards another branch of the supermarket.
The swans have been a feature at the town’s Lake Grounds for years and have more recently set up home at a nearby marina – which happens to be easier for the shops.
Experts believe the birds have started visiting stores because they have come to link plastic bags with food – mainly because bird lovers feed them with bread from them.
Experts believe the birds have started visiting stores because they have come to link plastic bags with food because bird lovers feed them with bread from them (file image)
Now, rather than wait for their next meal, they appear to be trying to cut out the middle man and head straight for the shops.
Ellen Kershaw, from Swan Rescue South Wales, said: ‘Food is important to all wildlife and it may be the swans have started to associate the supermarket with people bringing them bread.’
A swan’s normal diet consists of plants, roots, leaves and seeds that it finds in its aquatic habitat.