The mill pond mourns Aphrodite's sacred bird

Langstone Mill Pond, Hampshire The swans' nest lies deserted, the eggs presumably scavenged while the bereaved cob was defending his territory

Almost two weeks have passed since the nesting female mute swan was viciously attacked by dogs and succumbed to her injuries, but it feels as though the mill pond is still in mourning.

Rain tears my cheeks, the water is turbid with suspended silt, and the customary raucous gaggles of mallards, coots and moorhens are conspicuous by their absence. Even the rising chorus of chiffchaffs, Cetti's warblers and reed warblers is muted.