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!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ginny, I think you're right there :)
DeleteGorgeous photos of the white swans, Denise. Thanks for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteThank you Margaret and you are very welcome :)
Deletei 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!!
ReplyDeleteThat's great Debbie, so glad :) You take exquisite photos of the wildlife, I think that's enough.
Deletewild 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
ReplyDeleteWonderful and thank you so much Sandra :) With your encouragement I will share more memories as time goes on. Thank you so much!
DeleteYour photos of the swans are excellent. How fun to get to watch them.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ann, so glad you enjoyed and it was a wonderful time. I only which we could have stayed longer. I think I would have been there all day :)
DeleteGreat series on the Mute Swan family. They are beautiful. Take care, enjoy your day and the week ahead.
ReplyDeleteThank you Eileen, happy you think so :) I wish you the same :)
DeleteA 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.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten what they were called from that time to this. One reason I like old posts, they give me a great refresher :)
DeleteBeautiful
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Thank you Christine :)
DeleteThose swans are very handsome. And I love the cygnets-are they still called cygnets at that size?
ReplyDeleteHello Erika, they certainly are :) Yes, they are still called Cygnets. These are about 6 months old and keep their darker feathers for the first several months of their life.
DeleteLovely birds.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anne :)
DeleteWonderful photos Denise. I love swans :-D They are such good parents too :-D
ReplyDeleteThey really are good parents, I agree Ananka. Thank you so much, glad you liked them. I love them too but rarely get to see any, which made them even more of a treasured memory when I found these old photos.
DeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeletersrue.blogspot.com
Thank you Regine :)
DeleteThe 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!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly did :) How lovely you see their nests, no, not mute :)
DeleteELEGANT a perfect word to describe swans.
ReplyDeleteThank you Red, they truly are :)
DeleteSwans are such beautiful, graceful birds. It's always a joy to see them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you say Janice, thank you :)
DeleteWe 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
Thank you Elke, we do, don't we? You are very welcome and you have a lovely evening also. Hugs, Denise :)
DeleteDenise your duck and bird photos are always so eye pleasing
ReplyDeleteHugs Cecilia
A lovely compliment Cecilia, thank you so much! Hugs, Denise
DeleteA nice look back at this post from 2014. Swans are always a special treat to see. Great shots!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellen and very much so, a very special treat indeed :)
DeleteLovely photographs and memories from 2014.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Thank you Jan, they were indeed :) All the best to you too, Denise
DeleteSuch a lovely look back at 2014, Denise.
ReplyDeleteSwans are always such a special sight, and you captured them beautifully.
Thank you Veronica :) I appreciate your kind words very much :)
DeleteDenise, thanks for sharing these photos and information on the swan family. We have only seen a pair of swans once in the Nashua River, but too many geese, ducks, and gulls.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting Dorothy, and you are very welcome to these :) Thank you!
DeleteGreat shots too. Love that he gets the materials and she builds it. That's team work! And love!
ReplyDeleteI love that too, yes indeed. Thanks Ivy :)
Delete❤️
DeleteGreat photos of the swans.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know some swans are mute.
I don't think they are exactly mute from what someone said. I'll have to look it up :)
DeleteInteresting post. The swans are beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThank you Linda and they certainly are :)
DeleteThey're awfully cute when they're young, aren't they!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are Jeanie :)
DeleteBeautiful birds!
ReplyDeleteThank you William, I thought so too :)
DeleteSwans are very regal and elegant birds to watch. Amazing what a change the goslings go though to adulthood with such beautiful white feathers. Thank you for sharing your photos and information about them, Denise.
ReplyDeleteI agree Beverley :) yes, it is amazing. Thank you too and you are very welcome.
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