We have a pair of resident mute swans on the nearby mere; last year this pair had two broods, one with 8 cygnets and next with 9 with all surviving. This year courtship has started with synchronised movements, mating and preening. Here are photos of this beautiful pair of waterfowl. ..........
Synchronised "dancing"
mating .......
and jubilation ! ........
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Regards, Hazel
Oh they are just beautiful creatures, look at the posturing and posing! Hopefully more successful broods this year, thanks for sharing
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Lovely photos Hazel, must e a joy to watch
(Pardon the Scottish Accent)
Fabulous photos Hazel
Wonderful shots Hazy! I like the first one most. I love the symmetry and I am a fan of close ups ...
Lovely sequence of photo's Hazy.
That's wonderful Hazy. We have a whooper swan on our lake brought here by someones a few years back he can't fly. His other half unfortunately had a fight with a fox a couple of years back so he has been without a mate. However a wild mute female who must have also been missing a partner, arrived here this year and has stayed, they have become partners and are showing signs of courting. So fingers crossed we might have a successful brood, if that is possible which I think it is. Not sure what the mute/whooper outcome will be.
Thank you all.
@ Mr. Kes; That's a really heart-warming story and goes to show nature finds a way in the face of adversity so let's hope these two raise a brood together. We lost a moorhen a couple of years ago (pretty sure if was most likely the female who must have been protecting her chicks in the nest from being predated as she was found dead floating on the water next to the nest). A few weeks later the lone partner started calling (mainly in the hours of darkness) and another mate turned up and they have since raised two broods last year and the first brood of this year is at the egg and incubating stage now. it's lovely when good can come out of sadness.
Mr Kes said:Not sure what the mute/whooper outcome will be.
It'll be a Hute
Yes very nice. I really hope they have a successful brood. With mink and crows around it makes it tough where we are.
Yes very good PB. That did make me laugh out loud. Or maybe a Mooper