family of swans

[lanyon lad]

:smile1::smile1: Further signs of spring is the appearance of family of black swans on a local stretch of water which in the photo looks a bit murky,the result of recent heavy rain. Quite noticeable is pieces of bread floating on the surface,despite notices telling people not to feed the wild life,particularly with bread,sadly it still happens.:sad1::sad1:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/aus99/swans003.jpg

[Ann]

were wiating for Winter here in Canada 5 months of snow Ice :)
love the black swans

[lanyon lad]

:smile1::smile1: This morning I checked on the family's progress,I could see how the cygnets have grown but I could only see two. I'll have another look latet in the week. :smile1::smile1:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/aus99/cygnets004.jpg

[lanyon lad]

:big_smile::big_smile: And here's part of another family,not swans but they are mainly black,the fledgling is on the right. :smile1::smile1:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/aus99/motherandson.jpg

[Admin]

What sort of birds are those on the fence, I thought they were Magpies, but their beaks look different to a Magpies beak.
It looks strange viewing spring in Australia, because here the opposite is happening here, Autumn has really taken hold now, it is a lot colder and today all the leaves are being blown off the trees, because it is very windy :sad1:

[Tracy]

Great pics :smile1:, Bernard, i would of said that they was magpies :conf (13):

[lanyon lad]

:smile1::smile1: They are in fact Australian Magpies,so called because the early settlers identified the markings with English Magpie,but they are closer to currawongs or crows. They make a unique yodelling sound,which along with other bird songs,greets the dawn. Normally a very tame bird it can be quite aggressive during the breeding season and people are advised to wear protective headgear in the nesting areas,yet in over 40 years I have never been swooped by a Magpie,but I suppose there's always a first time. :smile1::smile1:

[lanyon lad]

:smile1::smile1: In November last year I posted photos of a black swan family thinking it only happened in spring but I was wrong.On my early morning walk on Monday I saw a new family,whether they are the same pair I don't know,but the cygnets are definitely new. :smile1:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v732/aus99/newswanfamily.jpg

[Admin]

Nice pictures :smile1: