The serenity of a Swan

Swans do make a good subject for a photographer numpty like me. They are big and tend not to swim or fly away at the first sight of you, enabling a close proximity between subject and photographer. This young Mute Swan was one of 4 at Baston Fen the other day, feeding on the river which lies alongside the nature reserve.

Monochrome Swan

Mute Swan

After doing a few posts on the swans we have over-wintering with us in the U.K. I thought it only fair to do one on our more familiar swan, the Mute Swan.

One of our largest birds, graceful, serene, but can also be fairly aggressive if you get too close to one with young. It is mostly silent, hence the name, but does make a loud hiss when angry and other snorting sounds. You can be alerted to one (or two) flying overhead by a loud, throbbing `waou waou` noise made by their wings. They tend to mate for life and can live for over 20 years.

A truly beautiful bird which, contrary to common folk lore, cannot break your arm!

Cob

Mute Monday