Swanning around on the river: Intimate photos show the Queen’s birds looking after their young cygnets

By Daily Mail Reporter


Mum's the word: The fluffy grey cygnets take refuge under their mother's wings

Graceful and elegant, the majestic swan has come to symbolise the very monarch that protects it.

The Queen's birds are the epitome of nobility as they glide through water, their heads held high on the end of their long and resplendently-curved necks.

However here, in these astonishingly intimate photographs captured by semi-professional photographer Grant Auton, the secret life of swans is laid bare.

A touching and heart-warming side to the resplendent swan is revealed as two parents lovingly care for their cygnets.

Peek-a-boo: A tiny chick pops out of its mother's plumage in a remarkably intimate portrait of the secret life of swans


Grant took the pictures near his home in Andover, in Hampshire, and the images give a unique insight into the moment the graceful birds rarely allow humans to see.

The 47-year-old was given special access to the swans at Rooksbury Mill nature reserve, near his home, over a number of days allowing him to form a bond with the birds who then let him see them when they'd normally hide away.

Grant, who was a sales director at a barcoding company until January, says the beautiful birds have always held a fascination for him.

He said: 'I love watching swans, they're so graceful. I've tried to encapsulate a special moment with them.

'So much wildlife photography is just a snap, I wanted to get an intimate moment with them.

Ripple effect: As the adult swan twists its long neck to clean under its feathers, its young copies the move


'I've been going there for four or five years now, since this pair of swans was young. Last year they had their first set of cygnets. They had eight in total, but only two survive, and both of them have come back with their parents this year.

'This year they had four babies, but only one is left, it shows both the beauty and cruelty of nature.'

When Grant first arrived at the park he spent 45 consecutive days watching the birds to allow them to get used to his presence. After the waiting they felt comfortable enough to bring out their young for him to see.

Grant says the astonishing images are relatively simple to produce, adding: 'It's just a reasonable DSLR camera and a couple of telephoto lenses.


Rear view: The graceful swan is shown in all its glory as it glides through the water, barely causing a ripple


'There's no photoshop wizardry involved in them. With swans the problem is that you get the head or body in the shot and it over-exposes the rest of the swan. The key is to get there early in the morning or in the evening, when you have a special golden light.

'The black background is what amazes people, that just involves keeping the sun directly behind you and shooting. Then the brightness of the swans means the background comes up almost black, whether its trees, bushes or just the bank.

'My favourite picture shows a swan preening under its wing with the light hitting it perfectly, but the one that makes people say "oh my god" shows a cygnet poking its head out of the mother's feathers while riding on her back.

'It's really great being able to see these wonderful moments they share.' Grant feels watching the swans is the perfect way to unwind after a hard day at work, and will continue to head down to the park as often as he can.

'My photography is my get away. Heading down to the quietness of the lake is the perfect way to unwind, it's the perfect tonic after work.'


source:dailymail