Saturday 12 May 2012

Black Swans

The Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) is a well known, and even iconic Australian bird. It is rather common here, depending on where you live. Sadly, I don't see them at home, but frequently do on visits to Canberra (and Newcastle). It's always a thrill to see them.







They're common in Tasmania too, which is where I took these next two shots. 







Our black swans have a call and so I was surprised to learn that the European white swan was mute when I went to Ireland in 2010. Interesting to learn on wiki that New Zealand had a subspecies of black swan, but that it was sadly hunted to extinction.


Saturday Snapshot, is a wonderful weekly meme from at home with books

28 comments:

Elena said...

Gorgeous photos! I love pictures of birds.

Trish said...

How beautiful they are!

(Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea said...

Fabulous photo. Stunning creatures:)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful photographs.

Staci said...

They are beautiful and I love the touch of color on their beaks!!

Lisa@ButteryBooks said...

Wow, I have never seen a black swan. They are stunning!

BurtonReview said...

How beautiful! Thanks for sharing these! My Snapshot.

Laurel-Rain Snow said...

Wow! They look kind of eerie on the water together, like converging troops.

Yet they are also gorgeous. Thanks for sharing.

Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT

Anonymous said...

Your second photo is a nice close-up of the swan and his beak.
I've never seen black swans before. We have mostly white ones where we are in Canada.

JoAnn said...

A nearby community has a swan pond, and it's white inhabitants draw visitors from miles around. I've never seen a black swan... they are gorgeous.

Susan Lindquist said...

What beautiful birds! So interesting that they are black. I have only seen the white variety ... they are such regal birds!

bermudaonion said...

They're gorgeous!

Alyce said...

I didn't even know there was such a thing - very neat!

Eva said...

I had no idea that there was such a thing as black swans before I saw them on a visit to Australia in 1994.
Geogeous birds.

Sim Carter said...

Sensational shots of these stunning birds. I love that shot of vivid red on the beaks!

Lisa said...

The black swans are amazing! Great pictures!

My Snapshot

edgar said...

It's true there are black swans and they swim in a swan lake.

They are pretty like the white ones.

Leslie (Under My Apple Tree) said...

An entire flock of them is quite a sight. I got to see a couple of them at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melb. They weren't making any sounds though. Here in the US we only have the white ones.

Paulita said...

They're so magnificent, someone should make a movie about them. Oh, they already did. Great shots. Here's Mine

Laura BurgandyIce said...

Wow!!! I love your pictures! I didn't know that - any of that about any swan! It's amazing to see so many black ones together. I don't think I've seen more than 2-3 swan at once and it's always magical. Thx!!

Irene said...

They are MAGNIFICENT. Wish I could get a great picture, like yours, to paint.

Bev Hankins said...

How very cool! And there are so many of them.

Here's my Snapshot.

Cassie said...

How beautiful! I've never seen black swans in person, but I'd love to. They look so regal.

Virginia said...

I'm partial to the red bill! Beautiful birds.
V

Catriona Cullum said...

What wonderful pictures :D

Carol said...

Beautiful photos, Louise.

carol

Pooch said...

The first pic is amazing. They look so exotic.

:)

Eugenia O'Neal said...

Wow! I'd never heard of black swans (outside of the movie)! Seeing them all together there in the first picture was awesome.