2019 - Swans
- Linda Kent
- Mar 6, 2019
- 3 min read
Updated: Jan 21, 2024
After a period of inactivity with my camera, I started 2019 with the intention of trying to capture the light and weather to create atmosphere and mood. My first project this year is swans.
26th February - I travelled to Bushy Park to arrive before sunrise at 06.55. I was lucky today with a beautiful sunrise and mist over the pond. These 2 swans started to behave in unison and were totally in synch with all their actions. A shame they weren't looking into the sun, but that's wildlife for you, they never do what you want them to. I watched them for about 20 minutes before they finally mated. A wonderful experience and a privilege to watch.
The swans in their traditional heart shaped pose
The mist and sunrise bathed the park in beautiful golden light. A few fisherman were fishing by the pond and there were few people to spoil the beauty and silence of the early morning.
5th March - Another trip to Bushy Park, this time a little earlier as sunrise is now 06.35. Unfortunately, no mist this time, so not quite the same light or atmosphere as the previous week. The swans were not so active today either, so decided to try some close up of the swans in the early morning light before it became too harsh on their white feathers.
12th April 2019 - Arrived in Bushy Park to a fabulous, misty sunrise casting a beautiful light over the pond. Unfortunately I only had one lens with me so I could only get a compacted view of the scene before me.
The swans mentioned above were still there but no signs of nesting. I heard today they are probably too young to produce any young this year. The light on the birds though was stunning this morning
22nd April 2019 - Another trip to Bushy Park to see the sunrise. Unfortunately, as I can't get in the park until after sunrise, I only caught the tail end of the beautiful light that was there this morning.
Soon after the sunrise, it started to cloud over and the light was lost. I watched the 2 swans preening on the edge of the pond. Unfortunately, just after this photo was taken, I noticed a fishing line caught around her wing with a stick attached. The Swan Sanctuary was phoned with a promise to address the problem. She didn't look in any distress, so hopefully they will be able to remove the fishing line from her.
1st June 2019 - I was fantastic news to hear that the 2 swans on Heron Pond had 4 cygnets. I decided to take a trip to Bushy Park to see these cygnets on the Heron Pond. Unfortunately, the light was very harsh and looking into the sun most of the time, so not great photos. It was still a wonderful moment though to see these delightful little cygnets. The adults took them on a long swim to the other side of the car park and back to the pond. They are only 3 days old and must have been tired. I wanted to get a photo of them on the adults back, which they eventually did do, but I was looking into the sun, which was harsh by this time, so photos aren't very good.
16th June 2019 - Very sad news, I found out that the father of this little family was found dead in the bracken about a week ago, very upsetting. Mum and 3 cygnets (1 disappeared a couple of weeks ago) appear to be doing well at the moment.
20th June 2019 - I was delighted to hear that the 2 swans I observed mating in April have hatched 4 cygnets on 18th & 19th June. I visited them when they were 1 & 2 days old. I could see the inexperience of the parents with mum standing on them and not allowing them to get onto her back.
21st June 2019 - Another visit to Bushy Park to see this little family. All the time I was there I did not see dad at all, although he had been seen earlier with her, so assume he was there over night. Mum was doing a good job looking after her new family
Update -These 4 cygnets all survived into adult swans, which is very good news.
Comments