Armed with the camera I went in search of the reported cygnets this weekend, away from the city and into the depths of the country. When I reached the nest standing proudly above the water, all I could make out was an unhatched egg and four white feathers. There was no sign of the adults or the cygnets. Fortunately there was also no sign of a struggle, no evidence that the foxes had a banquet at the nest. All was quiet except for the call of a stonechat.