The first post of the year brings a little family of cygnets along with two of my favourite graceful Black Swan shots, a close-up preening portrait and a cute little one hitching a ride on its mumma’s back.
It’s always a magical moment to see a raft of cygnets paddling alongside an attentive parent.
I love the two high-key shots and can never quite decide which one I like most. I like the over-the-shoulder turned head in the one above, and the perfect symmetry (and water dripping from its bill) in the one below.
The two high-key shots were taken on an overcast day at the Western Treatment Plant, with the white clouds reflected in the pond. The ruffled feathers look exquisite in this shot.
This swan was snuggled among reeds at a wetland with just a little light shining through. The texture of it’s bill looks quite remarkable.
How totally adorable!
Sharing Black Swans today was a special request from a special friend who has been unbelievably helpful over the past few days. Thank you JB!
Happy birding, Kim
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Great set of photos for the New Year. Truly adorable!
Thanks heaps Margot, I’m super glad that you like them 🙂
What wonderful photos to start the New Year. Mum and babies sharing special time together and what a stunning Mum! The last photo of a very cheeky chick catching a ride on Mum’s back is priceless.
I think you would be most interested to hear the story of two boys aged 9 and 11 from Adelaide who found a mother duck and her babies on a road where the bitumen was burning their little feet. 39 degrees heat. They raced home, grabbed a pet carrier and returned to save the Mum and 10 babies. They jumped in the car with their Mum and drove to a safe release site and watched as Mum encouraged the babies to enter the water and survive the heat.
These boys have grown up with a Mum who is a wildlife carer and they have had the perfect role model and shown they too love, respect, value and will rescue and protect all wildlife. A truly wonderful story and the two young boys need to be congratulated for their compassion, understanding and, most important of all, taking action.
Stay safe this summer and let’s all remember to put out water and keep an eye on all our wildlife friends.
What wonderful pair of brothers! I don’t think many people would even think of how hot the bitumen would be on the ducklings’ tiny feet, let alone do something about it. Their mum must be super proud of them.