Black swan stolen from 14th Century manor house in latest avian tragedy to strike Yorkshire moat

A male black swan has been left to protect his unhatched eggs alone after his mate was stolen from her nest in the moat of a 14th century manor house, in the latest tragedy to hit the couple.

The sight of Sebastian breaks the heart of those who live at Markenfield Hall in Yorkshire, as he regularly goes back to the nest to check on his eggs.

Is is thought his partner Sylvia, who had been an attraction at the house for years, was stolen, as she disappeared without a trace.

This comes after Sylvia's previous mate was killed by an otter two years ago, and after a period of mourning she was introduced to Sebastian, and they quickly hit it off.

The pair had spent most of this month constructing a nest on the moat bank at the manor house so Sylvia could lay her eggs. Many in the area were excited to hear the cheeps of cygnets come late spring.

But owner of the manor Lady Deirdre Curteis and husband Ian Curteis began to grow concerned when they found Sebastian by himself last Saturday, sitting on the nest alone.

Lady Deirdre said: "I thought it was peculiar as Sebastian - the male - always swims across when he sees anyone coming, but there was just one swan and it was sitting on the nest.

"We searched for Sylvia for days but found no trace anywhere - not even a feather".

Swans are unusual in that both the parent birds help incubate any eggs, with one standing guard to warn off predators. If they hatch, Sebastian will have to be a single parent, protecting them until they are old enough to fly.

After a frantic few days of searching, Lord and Lady Curteis consulted their swan expert and came to the conclusion that Sylvia had been stolen. She has had her flight feathers removed so could not have flown away.

Markenfield Hall's moat has been patrolled by a pair of Black Swans since Lady Deirdre and the late Lord Grantley completed their phase of the Hall's restoration in the early 1980s.

The couple were given the first pair by a friend who was the Curator of Birds at London Zoo.

The birds and their descendants have lived at the North Yorkshire hall ever since.

Now Lady Deirdre is searching for a new female mate for Sebastian before the hall opens to the public on Sunday, May 5.

She hopes the young swan will accept a new female and "live here in peace once more."

Markenfield Hall will be open to the public from Sunday, May 5 to Sunday, May 19 and again from Sunday, June 16 to Sunday, June 30.