An empty swan nest, with a cob wandering around looking for its mate, and the eggs.
Pen was injured, presumably during an attack on the eggs by a fox or dog, so local caring person took her to the local RSPCA place, to be tended. Next day she was making good progress, so all were assuming she'd be out and back with her mate, and hopefully the eggs if they checked out OK (rather unlikely on the egg front, they were way late, and should have hatched by now).
Caring person phones yesterday, to check when he can collect the pen to take her back, and they say "Oh, we put her down, its only a bird."
Its not "only a bird", you fucking morons, its a much loved wife of a now bereaved cob, and treasured local resident. I am seething over this, as are a large group of residents.