I am very thankful for old photos to share, especially in wintertime when we don't go very far, and as we get older. These were taken in 2014.
I enjoyed reading my notes and had a nice refresher on these elegant birds.
The male and the female, called cob and pen, usually mate for life, though if something happens to one, the other will find another mate.
The nest is a huge mound of material, normally dried grasses and assorted vegetation, sticks and rushes, constructed at the water's edge.
The nest is built by the female, while the male supplies the materials.
The female lays up to seven eggs between late April and early May. Both sexes incubate the eggs, which hatch after 35-41 days.
The young birds, or cygnets, sometimes ride on their parents' backs and remain with the adult birds for four or five months.
Cygnets are generally dingy brown above and whit-ish below. Occasionally, cygnets may be all white and are known as 'Polish swans'.
The young of some pairs are driven off the breeding territory as soon as their plumage is predominantly white (during late autumn or winter).
Other broods often accompany their parents to the wintering area and usually join a large flock. They will remain with this flock when the parents return to their breeding territory.
Young birds will not generally breed for the first two years of adult life.
We had stopped at a lake and there was a family feeding the swans. That's the reason we were able to get these photos.
Mom and Dad were doing a great job taking care of their little ones.
We saw our mute swan family on our way to the airport for the flight home. They were a nice parting gift.
I added my year review on that old post. In 2014 we were in the Everglades in January. In the middle of summer, we had a family reunion where we all attended the Normandy D-Day Anniversary, and then onto England and Norway, the latter being where we saw the family of swans.
We have lovely memories from those times.
Thanks for looking and I hope you have a wonderful day!
You got great photos of them. I guess mom & dad have their hands, or wings, full with all these teenagers!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos of the white swans, Denise. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeletei enjoy reading posts like these...that teach us about the common ducks and animals we see. sometimes i offer background information, often i don't. great captures, even the water is beautiful!!
ReplyDeletewild clapping on these photos, they are just absolutely amazing! I have not seen these before, I would remember, I like to go back through my old posts and find things that I saw back when. keep showing us these, so much beauty hiding in the past
ReplyDeleteYour photos of the swans are excellent. How fun to get to watch them.
ReplyDeleteGreat series on the Mute Swan family. They are beautiful. Take care, enjoy your day and the week ahead.
ReplyDeleteA few families of Trumpeter swans hang around here for a few months in winter, but it’s a guessing game as ti whether or where they will appear on any given day and on which side of the river if at all. Cob and Pen are new to me. I wonder if I will remember.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful
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Those swans are very handsome. And I love the cygnets-are they still called cygnets at that size?
ReplyDeleteLovely birds.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos Denise. I love swans :-D They are such good parents too :-D
ReplyDeleteBeautiful.
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The people feeding the swans did you a favor! We have trumpeter swans. I see their nests along the lakes and ponds as well as the swans. They really are elegant. And not mute!
ReplyDeleteELEGANT a perfect word to describe swans.
ReplyDeleteSwans are such beautiful, graceful birds. It's always a joy to see them.
ReplyDeleteWe feel the same way about traveling.
ReplyDeleteThese photos of the swans and the cygnets are so adorable, they warm my heart. Thank you!
Have a lovely evening, hugs, Elke