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
at

28 comments:

  1. Elena12 May 2012 at 17:46

    Gorgeous photos! I love pictures of birds.

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  2. Trish12 May 2012 at 21:19

    How beautiful they are!

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  3. (Diane) Bibliophile By the Sea12 May 2012 at 21:20

    Fabulous photo. Stunning creatures:)

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  4. Anonymous12 May 2012 at 21:54

    Beautiful photographs.

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  5. Staci12 May 2012 at 22:02

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

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  6. Lisa@ButteryBooks12 May 2012 at 22:19

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

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  7. BurtonReview 12 May 2012 at 22:33

    How beautiful! Thanks for sharing these! My Snapshot.

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  8. Laurel-Rain Snow12 May 2012 at 22:58

    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

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  9. Anonymous12 May 2012 at 23:06

    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.

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  10. JoAnn12 May 2012 at 23:23

    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.

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  11. Susan Lindquist12 May 2012 at 23:24

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

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  12. bermudaonion13 May 2012 at 01:06

    They're gorgeous!

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  13. Alyce13 May 2012 at 01:24

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

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  14. Eva13 May 2012 at 03:32

    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.

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  15. Sim Carter13 May 2012 at 04:22

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

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  16. Lisa13 May 2012 at 04:54

    The black swans are amazing! Great pictures!

    My Snapshot

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  17. edgar13 May 2012 at 05:53

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

    They are pretty like the white ones.

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  18. Leslie (Under My Apple Tree)13 May 2012 at 07:04

    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.

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  19. Paulita 13 May 2012 at 09:28

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

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  20. Laura BurgandyIce13 May 2012 at 10:20

    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!!

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  21. Irene13 May 2012 at 11:03

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

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  22. Bev Hankins13 May 2012 at 11:10

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

    Here's my Snapshot.

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  23. Cassie13 May 2012 at 13:01

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

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  24. Virginia13 May 2012 at 23:40

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

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  25. Catriona Cullum14 May 2012 at 11:16

    What wonderful pictures :D

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  26. Carol 15 May 2012 at 00:52

    Beautiful photos, Louise.

    carol

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  27. Pooch15 May 2012 at 02:22

    The first pic is amazing. They look so exotic.

    :)

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  28. Eugenia O'Neal20 May 2012 at 05:56

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

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Thank you for commenting.