I thought it might be interesting to post some photos of a Black Swan which HLH (His Loyal Highness, otherwise known as my husband) took last February on a local fishing lake. I don't recall ever seeing one in our area before.
After doing some research it seems there are more in this country than there used to be but they are still considered to be unusual.
The Black Swan (Cygnus Atratus) is a native of Australia and Tasmania and is also found wild in New Zealand where it was introduced. It was brought to the UK as an ornamental bird in the same way as Peacocks but inevitably there have been escapees into the wild.
The Black Swan has a bright red bill and white flight feathers which can also be seen clearly while preening and it has the longest neck in relation to it's size of all Swan species. It makes a musical bugle like sound and can also whistle, especially when disturbed while breeding and nesting. Most Swans are territorial during the breeding season but the Black Swan is the exception to this rule often building nests in colonies.
The Black Swan is the official state and bird emblem of Western Australia and appears on their flag and Coat of Arms. For over forty years it has been the town emblem of Dawlish in this country as a result of having been introduced to the town from New Zealand by John Nash, a Dawlish-born man who emigrated during adulthood but paid frequent visits to the town.
Another rather odd fact is that, because it was universally thought that all Swans were white until the black variety was found in Australia, events of enormous impact which are rare and virtually impossible to predict are called "black swans" such as the terrible events of September 11, 2001. It seems a shame to me that such a beautiful creature should be associated with circumstances of such horror and ugliness.
Such a gorgeous swan! The only swans I ever tend to see are the white ones. I would love to be able to see a black swan and get some pictures like yours!
ReplyDeleteThank you Kallen it was a surprising sight! My husband took the pics with his digital compact but wished he had had my DSLR with him.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. Phil
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for visiting Phil and for your very kind comment.
ReplyDeletelovely swan and such clear photos obviously not an amateur photographer like me
ReplyDeleteSheila
Love them! When I was a lot younger it seemed that I couldn't have a roll of film without a black swan on it! Now it feels like I haven't seen one in years...
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful pictures--and very interesting facts. I had always thought of black swans as unusual and rare--I didn't realize they had such negative connotations.
ReplyDeleteHi again ShySongbird :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos from HLH :-)
I am not familiar with Black Swans so I particularly enjoyed reading this posting – very interesting. I had never heard of the expression ‘black swans’ and I agree completely it is quite unfair for this beautiful bird to be associated in any way with Sept 11.
I did however, smile at this swan being happy to nest in colonies. I like birds that do that :-D
Hi Sheila, Nathalie, Morning Glories and Shirl:
ReplyDeleteSheila: Thank you so much for visiting and your very kind comments which are very flattering, HLH and I are very much amateurs still but do enjoy 'having a go'. There does seem such a lot to learn but it's fun trying.
Nathalie: Thanks for coming back. You are lucky, I don't think I have ever seen one before except perhaps in an ornamental setting. This one just turned up on a local lake near a golf course and we have not seen it before or since.
Morning Glories: Thank you so much for your generous comments and for visiting. I too was surprised to see the negative connotations associated with such a beautiful creature but unfortunately I suppose it is typical of mankind to make such comparisons given our propensity to superstition.
Welcome again Shirl: I'm so glad you found it interesting, it was certainly fascinating to research.
I too like the idea of the neighbourliness of them nesting in colonies, I wonder if they chat over the wall!!
Thank you, HLH is grinning like a Cheshire cat at your kind comment on his photography, he does enjoy it but is always disadvantaged by having a large dog on a lead in one hand and a camera in the other!
Very interesting and informative entry which I enjoyed reading. I think the Sun was fairly low in the sky which gives the photographs a nice warm glow. Congratulations to HLH.
ReplyDeleteI know the feeling of having a dog and camera at the same time. Fortunately Bobby is normally calm and patient and used to me stopping to take photos though I usually stand on one end of his lead and hope he doesn't spy a cat!
Thank you John for your kind comment and thank you from HLH also who says he knows exactly what you mean about the cat situation, that could be nasty and possibly fatal for the camera!
ReplyDeleteJust spent a good few happy minutes reading your blog shy songbird and what interesting reading it was too, such clear pictures and what a lovely title to give to your OH. I reckon I should steal it for my ever patient OH.
ReplyDeleteDelightful blog keep up the good work, thank you
Jayne
Welcome Jayne and thank you for your warm and generous comments. I am still getting to grips with my camera and of course birds are not easy to photograph (as I'm sure you know) as they just won't do what they are told! HLH says he may start to put the letters after his name as he has no others!!
ReplyDeleteOh dear ShySongbird, I could be quite cheeky here and tell you what letters my dear Oh could have after his name, nothing rude or offensive of course lol
ReplyDeleteJayne
Now, now Jayne! That is far too tempting, on the odd occasion that HLH's crown slips it would be very easy to think of alternative letters....absolutely not rude or offensive as you say!!!
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are beautiful birds. There's a lone one here, on one of our lakes at Willen, and has been all the time I've lived here, about 12 years. He's quite aggresive when there's food around, (I'm told), but he's always been well behaved when I've seen him.
ReplyDeleteShame about the negative associations for such stunning bird.
Hi holdingmoments and thanks for visiting. You are right it really is a stunning bird and I'm afraid it hasn't been seen on the lake since. What a shame the one on your lake hasn't got a mate.
ReplyDelete