Swans
Posted: Tuesday, 19 December 2006 |
One of the families of swans that inhabit the island. I wonder if anyone has tried to count how many there are as I usually see one pair or family at each bay or beach, at least down the sheltered east side of the island. These swans wore rings on their legs so someone is keeping a track of them. This family was taken at the join between Port Bannatyne and Ardbeg.
Comments
Did you get permission from- a) the Swans or b) The Queen to take your picture? I believe that in this country the Queen owns all the Swans, you may get a visit from the Swan Squad.
gordon from stornoway
Surely that would be the Flying Squad?
Mark from Glasgow
Scottish swans don't pertain to Her Maj. We had this debate when a prominent Sanday resident was investigated for eating one, hasten to add it was a power line casualty not shot for the pot. The flavour of the debate was enlivened by the fact that the eater is a knight of the realm and he offered thre polis a taste. FC keeps a beady eye on the birdies but even he would baulk at a swan methinks
Hyper-Borean from Swan Upping
Mummy, Daddy and baby, how sweet! Just as well they didn't pick up any of that nasty bird flu that was going round earlier this year. Great close shot.
Maisie from Ayrshire
Swans are usually territorial so keep to their own patch. This pair frequent Port Bannatyne and Ardbeg and we follow their breeding every year! They have 4 or 5 cygnets usually - the gulls have the odd one now and again! They mate for life and this pair are reasonably friendly! When fully fledged, the cygnets will fly off to find their own space leaving mom & dad to start again!!
kaz from bute
Good to see that our Port swans are famous! Like Kaz we watch the annual arrival of cygnets [ this year = 5. Well done Mrs Swan: she has more patience with her brood than I do with mine!]. But, a word of warning for those looking to seek out the Port swans: PLEASE don't feed them near the road! They are greedy little so and so's and have no road sense. Last year we had several traffic jams as the swans refused to move until fed and they can be pretty indimadating!!! But the little ones are thriving this year [ swans- 5, sea gulls- nil] and soon it will be time for Mr Swan to chase his younguns away and start all over again. Poor, poor Mrs Swan...
Freddy from Bute.
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