Saturday 11 February 2012

Flat out!


An unusual sight of a Whooper Swan just `chilling` (quite literally!) on the ice at Deeping High Bank yesterday. The river is now almost completely frozen, but the build up of birds continues.

32 comments:

  1. That is an unusual John.
    I must get up the High Bank soon, haven't been for a while.

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    1. Hi Roy,
      It`s well worth a visit! There are now up to 70 Goosander there!
      J

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  2. It's a lovely photo, John but I hope it was alright, I had this horrible thought that perhaps there was something wrong such as it being frozen into the ice!!!! I'm sure I have heard of such awful things. Oh, goodness please tell me it definitely wasn't ....

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    1. Don`t worry Jan, I saw the bird swimming around with 4 others a bit later on, I think he was just relaxing!
      J

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  3. Great shot! Havent seen that before!
    Have a nice weekend
    Yvonne & Raphael

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    1. Hi Yvonne and Raphael,
      Thank you. Yes, it was a bit unusual to see!
      Hope your weekend is good too!
      J

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  4. Phew! Thanks so much, John, I seriously was worried but you have put my mind at rest and now I can enjoy the lovely photo much more :-)

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    1. Not to worry Jan, thanks for the kind words about the photo!
      J

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  5. Yes, the Whooper Swan is a beautiful swan. The build up of birds must be because they're hungry.

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    1. Hi Bob,
      Yes, they are desperate for food and feel safe on open water so the predators can`t get them.
      J

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  6. A wonderful picture John and heart warming, despite the chilly weather. It's great to see our birds surviving and even enjoying this cold weather! I got so close to a Heron today that had stopped by at our tiny little brook. I just wasn't quick enough to snap him.

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    1. Hi Diane,
      Thank you. Yes, the birds are doing their best, but I fear that this cold snap will produce some casualties.
      The cold weather makes some birds more approachable as they tend to just think of eating rather than keep a look out for predators!
      J

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  7. A wonderful image John... they are beautiful birds to see

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    1. Thanks Andrew, the snow and ice makes them look even more beautiful in my opinion!
      J

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  8. Great capture John; and very unusual too.

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    1. Thanks Keith! Yes, it did make me look twice!
      J

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  9. Thats an interesting pose John, never seen that before, Are you sure that it hadn't been out the night before.

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    1. Thanks Mike, it does look a bit worse for wear doesn`t it!
      J

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  10. HI John..I thought you was going to show a dead bird and I was all prepared for that ...so glad to see it wasn't the case!! whew!!
    Great catch...
    It seems so weird for you all to be posting snow and ice this late in the season!!
    Grace

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    1. Hi Grace, I just realised what you meant, you thought I had a picture of a bird flat on a road!
      Thank you.
      Milder weather is forecast for the next week so this snow will be gone soon!
      J

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  11. I remember being told by one of the wardens at Welney that when they occasionally handle the swans, even in the depths of winter, the birds are as "warm as toast".

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    1. Maybe it was trying to melt the ice with its neck so it could get to some clear water! ;)
      J

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  12. Great capture John! I also was worried that it was frozen in the ice, but read through the comments and found out otherwise... what a relief that it wasn,t!

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    1. Thanks Wanda! No, I did think it looked a bit odd when I saw it, but, as I have said it was swimming quite happily a bit later on.
      J

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  13. I wonder what he/she is thinking? Great photo.

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    1. Hi Cuby Poet,
      Thank you. Might be thinking, "I thought it was supposed to be warmer in Britain!" ;)
      J

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