December 13, 2025 – Town of West Bend, Wi – It definitely wasn’t the seasonal seven swans a swimming, but there was an unusual sighting of two swans on Big Cedar Lake this past week. Several neighbors messaged about seeing the pair on the open water.
The first text of a possible sighting came Tuesday. By Friday morning Town of West Bend chairman Troy Zagel confirmed.
“I saw them flying by the big island on Big Cedar on Tuesday afternoon in front of my house,” said Zagel.
The swans were also reportedly spotted on Green Lake in Ripon, Wi. It’s unsure whether they’re the same pair, but the timing and the region make it an interesting possibility.
Consulting the DNR on whether these feathered friends are stragglers, lost, or perfectly normal … local expert Bill Mitchell, formerly with the DNR, said it’s common.
“That would be normal migration for them,” he said. “The south end of Big Cedar would freeze over later than the other Washington County lakes because of its depth. The birds will use the open water to rest.”
Send a message or sighting photo to judy@washingtoncountyinsider.com
Above photo is not the actual swans but from the WashingtonCountyInsider.com archives.
There is supposed to be seven swans a swimming!
Or are the other 5 coming?
we do have 12 more days to Christmas!