From Cygnets to Swans.

[Craigie]

I have been following this family of swans since May of this year.
Originally there was 7 cygnets, within the first week of hatching, 2 cygnets were taken by Gulls and within the next week an other was taken.
C&C very welcome.
5 cygnets date taken 24 May. f14 1/125sec ISO 100 FL 300mm

This was the only image I got of the 5 cygnets together, soon after this 1 cygnet was taken.

Proud Parent date taken 30 May f5 1/250 ISO 100 FL 70mm

When the cygnets entered the water from the nest one of the parents would go and chase off the other wild fowl, by fluffing up it's feathers and head towards them.

Keeping clean one. date taken 29 September f5 1/640sec ISO 100 FL 70mm


Keeping clean six date taken 3 October f7.1 1/320 ISO 100 FL 70mm

Keeping there feathers clean was a very important part of the swans and cygnets life.

Low flying date taken 20 October f18 1/800sec ISO 400 FL 210mm

With this image, I was taken a bit unaware. I heard the wing beat behind me and turned and took the shot.

Parents and three date taken 31 October f8 1/1000sec ISO 400 FL 531mm

In this image, I tried to focus on the cygnets and have the parents slightly OOF.

All together for the last time date taken 25 November f5 1/1000 ISO 200 FL 140mm

This was the last image I took of them all together. By the next day 3 of the cygnets have been chased of by their parents.

Time to Go date taken 26 November f5 1/250sec ISO 250 FL 135mm

This is the last cygnet getting told it is time to go.
By this time the pond was almost completely frozen over
I have thoroughly enjoyed the last six months watching and taking photos of this family of swans.

[Wavelength]

Wonderful, really wonderful...much enjoyed seeing them

[bje07]

Nicely illustrated

[madcrow]

Great images, story, patience and a job very well done.

[Dave Humphries]

Interesting narrative and pictures Gary,

We have so many here in Windsor that I'm not sure whether ours follow the same chasing off schedule, if you'd asked me, I'd have said they stayed with parents until the following year, although now I think about it, not sure why I thought that. There are cygnets and swans intermingling all the time, especially if tourists have bought the food pellets from riverside kiosks or (worse) bring their old loaves of bread along.

[Shadowman]

Nice series.

[mugge]

Lovely series. Whaaaaat, white swans! (I'm from Australia)
Cheers Ole

[Craigie]

Wonderful, really wonderful...much enjoyed seeing them

Thanks Nanakumar , I am glad you enjoyed viewing them.

[Craigie]

Nicely illustrated

Thanks Jean.

[Craigie]

Great images, story, patience and a job very well done.

Thanks a lot Maurice.

[Craigie]

Interesting narrative and pictures Gary,

We have so many here in Windsor that I'm not sure whether ours follow the same chasing off schedule, if you'd asked me, I'd have said they stayed with parents until the following year, although now I think about it, not sure why I thought that. There are cygnets and swans intermingling all the time, especially if tourists have bought the food pellets from riverside kiosks or (worse) bring their old loaves of bread along.

Thanks for viewing and commenting Dave.
What I have read about Mute swans, is that the cygnets stay with the parents 6 to 7 months max.
I never feed swans with bread.

[Craigie]

Nice series.

Thanks John.

[Craigie]

Lovely series. Whaaaaat, white swans! (I'm from Australia)
Cheers Ole

Thanks Ole, I believe you have black swans in Australia.

[bnnrcn]

Beautiful set Gary

[Craigie]

Beautiful set Gary

Thanks Binnur.

[Craigie]

Just an update on the swans, all cygnets gone.
C&C welcome
Peace at last. date taken 1st December f10 1/500sec ISO 400 FL 267mm


Cob and Pen on their own.

[bnnrcn]

I just wonder if they feel sad because the children left ? May be a silly question but seeing those two alone made me a bit emotional

[Craigie]

I just wonder if they feel sad because the children left ? May be a silly question but seeing those two alone made me a bit emotional

There was a tinge of sadness when I seen only the Cob and Pen in the pond this morning, but happy that they managed to raise four swans.

[IzzieK]

What a beautiful series!!! Love all of them and the narrative are very informative too. Why did you name them Cob and Pen? Just curious...

[Craigie]

What a beautiful series!!! Love all of them and the narrative are very informative too. Why did you name them Cob and Pen? Just curious...

Thanks very much Izzie for your comments it is appreciated.
Male swans are Cobs and female swans are Pens