Thousands of birds were frolicking in and around the lake. Careful not to sit on the freshly made droppings, I lay still with my camera, observing the lively sights and sounds. A trumpet like call caught my attention as a black swan glided gracefully across the water. Just like a small boat, it was followed by a large ripple of water. The swan demanded attention with its loud call, as it towered well above the other birds. After it waddled out of the lake, the swan put on a spectacular show. It raised its neck and made several loud calls in a row. Out of nowhere a second black swan appeared. From that point the two swans were inseparable, waddling together across the grass before making their way into the river. I followed the two swans as they took me on a wild swan chase. It was an interesting adventure. What I learned is that swans can move very quickly and they cover a lot of ground. Be prepared to follow them wherever they take you. There were a lot of bloopers. At one point I thought I had framed the perfect shot as one of the swans stood in front of the city skyline. As I snapped, the swan got ready to dive into the river. The result is hilarious. After a wonderful experience, I was determined to return the next day. This time I ventured further up the river near the bridge, where there were plenty of seagulls and jellyfish. A few more swans arrived as I explored the area. There were four in total. The swans spent at least an hour preening their feathers on the riverbank, beside a shallow puddle created by the low tide. I watched them standing on one leg while twisting their neck in peculiar ways. Their flexibility and balance are incredible.
Each of the birds was meticulous with their preening, they were fascinating to watch. It seems like the swans carried on for hours and I'm not exaggerating. Their actions were very repetitive as they lowered their heads into the water before twisting their heads backwards to preen their feathers. The swans carried on with their activities as if I wasn’t there. That’s just as well because they are known to attack sometimes (not that I’ve ever had that experience). Given that I recently had my camera licked by both an echidna and a goat, it’s a good thing that the swans didn't come too close. However, I did end up getting my bag wet and dirty from venturing onto the muddy river bank. It was well worth the experience though. Overall I got some shots that I'm pleased with, as well as some more bloopers. I thought I had a good shot of one swan, when another decided to stand in the background and photobomb. It added to the entertainment. I thoroughly enjoyed observing and photographing the swans. I learned a lot and will certainly be back for more.
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Fay AgathangelouWriter and Photographer About my blog
An honest and often humorous recount of my photographic experiences. There is always a story, regardless of the photographs taken. Archives
May 2021
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