Swan Visit

Swan Visit

August 18, 2010

The swans visit at least twice daily.  This is the same couple that has visited us since we moved here over three years ago.  I never tire of photographing these majestic birds!  The picture was taken from the kitchen patio doors just a few feet away from the water's edge.  It was early morning and the water was just a bare ripple, still quite grey from the cloud cover.  The water constantly changes colour or appears to depending on the time of day and sky conditions. 

These are Mute swans that winter here as well.  We get visits from the Trumpet and Whistler swans occasionally during their migration.  Mute swans mate for life and care for their signets for two years.  This year the couple have no signets which is unusual so they likely had them but something happened.  The swans can be quite territorial and despite their graceful, serene appearance when agitated one hit from their powerful wings is enough to break an adult's arm! 

The swans have become quite friendly with us.  They know they get fed!  Just the sound of the patio door opening is enough to bring them to the dock where they wait for the bread we toss them.  They are rather spoiled as this isn't the cheap store bought white bread but rather most times homemade multigrain bread or occasionally my husband's store bought Italiano splurge.  Everyone along here feeds them.  Our neighbours a few doors down have a seadoo.  Last year the swans were near their dock and would not let them into the dock.  It was quite the sight to see!  Each time they tried to dock the seadoo the drake went right after them.  The poor neighbours were stuck out on their seadoo for a good hour not being able to dock because of the swans.  Finally the swans mosied on and they were able to dock the seadoo.  It was very interesting to see a very different side of the swans.

Garden Gnome
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