February 10th
Serene wild swans on a winter day.
On a drive around the East Norfolk coast and broads, I encountered a mixed herd of swans on a flooded corner of a field. The herd comprised a majority of Whooper swans and a minority of Beswick's, joined by a few resident Mutes.
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| Whooper, Mute and Beswick's (centre and far right). |
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| Whooper swans |
The swans were all stained to a lesser or greater extent by the soil of the field, presumably having spent some days at this location. Some slept and preened, but most drifted on the water.
I approached slowly in my car but the swans were unperturbed, and so I parked up in a muddy layby opposite the water. With my window slid down, I heard a skylark singing from across the field, the lapping water, and the occasional honks of the Whoopers, a sound similar to my ear to my other winter delight: the Common Crane. The swans glided over close to the field edge, their necks upright, curious of me and my camera.
The red-listed Beswick's swan is now wintering in the UK in fewer numbers than before, with many short-stopping in Europe due to warmer winters. See them whilst you can!
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| Juvenile Mute Swan |
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| Whooper Swans |
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| Two Mute juveniles, Two adult and one juvenile Whoopers |
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| Whoopers, the juveniles with their grey beaks. |
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| Juvenile Whooper Swan stretching its wings |
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| Drifting over for a closer look |
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| Whooper Swan stretching its wings |
Some Beswick's have already been seen flying east over the sea, returning to Russia and the tundra. These smaller wild swans return to their summer grounds slightly earlier than the Icelandic Whoopers.
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