The pair of breeding swans on the section of river close to where I live usually have 6 cygnets, once they had 8. They have suppassed themselves this season...
This pair seem to be good parents and usually most of their young make it to adulthood (I think they lost one last season, either taken by a cat when still very young but even when they have grown a bit they are not safe from foxes). They were very close to the river bank when I went over the bridge but when I got the 'phone out to get the photos Mum and Dad got very protective and started hissing at me to keep away before one parent led the brood back into the middle of the river as the other parent stayed on the bank between me and them.