Mute swan (Cygnus olor)

The mute swan is a very large white water bird. It has a long S-shaped neck, and an orange bill with black at the base of it. Flies with its neck extended and regular slow wing beats. The population in the UK has increased recently, perhaps due to better protection of this species. The problem of lead poisoning on lowland rivers has also largely been solved by a ban on the sale of lead fishing weights. Some birds stay in their territories all year, while others move short distances and form winter flocks. In cold weather, some birds arrive from Europe into eastern England.

This close up image of a snoozing swan was taken at Tynemouth at the side of a boating lake. The bird was settling down for the night in the warm glow of the sunset, it opened its eye to check what I was up to and I caught it. I particularly like the delicate tones in its plumage and the colours on its head.  

These three birds were photographed at Ladyburn Lake, in Druridge Bay country park, Northumberland. I spent a happy hour watching as the swans kept taking off and flying around the perimeter of the lake before retuning to land in the centre. I managed to catch the three as they swung round before landing, the difficult part was not getting a wind surfer in the background.

top - Pentax *ist D Sigma 105mm lens.