A SECOND Black Swan cygnet has died in Dawlish.

It is thought the latest youngster may have also succumbed to a seagull after the first one died. 

It leaves the remaining brood at five cygnets from the original eight eggs of which seven hatched.

The latest loss was reported over the weekend.

The new family, thought to be a record brood, is hoped to swell the Black Swan population in the town. 

One of the seven died four days after they hatched. 

The five remaining cygnets appear to be doing well.

Dawlish waterfowl warden said: ‘All five cygnets are doing well this morning.

‘They were foraging on the grass bank.

‘Unfortunately we have lost another cygnet to a seagull and the family has moved further up the Brook.’

Since hatching on the specially built nesting site on Tuck’s Plot, the family has been venturing further afield and enjoying the new play park equipment on the Lawn. 

The new brook almost had a near miss soon after they hatched when they swam towards the Viaduct and tried to make an escape through a small gap in the fencing.

They were soon scooped up by engineers from the Orange Army of BAM Nuttall who were able to rescue them and return them to their parents. 

The Black Swan population in Dawlish was decimated by an outbreak of Avian Flu which claimed the lives of 11 birds.

Since then, new adults have been brought in to swell the numbers which has resulted in the latest batch of cygnets.

Black swans were brought to Dawlish in the early 20th century, when the first pair were brought over from New Zealand.

They are the unofficial symbol of Dawlish and a major tourist attraction.