'Can I sleep here, Mum?' Wonderful photograph captures the moment a cute baby swan shuns its nest and decides to rest on its mother's back

By Rob Preece


..Many parents will admit it can be difficult to put their little ones to bed at times.

And judging by this wonderful photograph, it seems baby swans are no exception.

A little cygnet decided not to sleep in the nest its mother made for it, and opted to rest on her instead.

Rise and shine: The cute cygnet looked perfectly content waking up on its mother's back

The cute cygnet is only weeks old but already seems very relaxed about life, looking perfectly content waking up on its mother's back.

Chris Wilson, 47, took the picture at a small lake in Kingsteignton, Devon.

He was working on his allotment when he spotted the birds resting nearby and immediately grabbed his camera.

The swans built a nest on a small island which keeps them safe from predators.

They share the island with a nesting mallard and a pair of geese.

Despite capturing an adorable moment shared by a mother and her young, Mr Wilson was modest about his picture.

He said: 'I think the shot shows a pair of birds very relaxed and content with their company. That's about it.'


Safe from harm: The birds have built a nest on a small island which keeps them away from predators


source:dailymail

Bet he's ruffled a few feathers... Black swan stands out after gatecrashing group of 600 white ones at ancient swannery

By Nick Enoch


The jet black swan has arrived at Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset and set up home with the resident 600 mute swans - which are all white

This new arrival at an ancient swannery is hoping to stand out from the crowd.

The jet black swan has mysteriously arrived - without an invitation - at Abbotsbury Swannery in Dorset and set up home with the resident 600 mute swans, which are all white.

Visitors to the 1,000-year-old attraction have been easily able to spot the large black bird that sticks out like a sore thumb.

But if the newcomer is hoping to make friends with the native swans then it is going the wrong way about it as it is aggressive and dominant by nature.

Scroll down for video

If the uninvited newcomer is hoping to make friends with the native swans then it is going the wrong way about it as it is aggressive and dominant by nature

The black swan - Cygnus atratus - is native to Australia and not indigenous to the UK.

But over the last 20 years, they have been imported here and put in private herds.

As their numbers have expanded, the odd one or two have escaped from captivity or been released, which is illegal in the UK.

Black swans are known to kill their young and this specimen’s arrival at Abbotsbury couldn’t have come at a worse time as it is in the middle of the hatching season there.

Staff have vowed to catch the interloper and find it a new home if it looks like it will pose a threat to the baby swans.

They are also on the lookout for a second black swan as a breeding pair could cause havoc with Britain’s wildlife and environment.

Steve Graves, the deputy swanherd, said: 'Black swans were brought over from Australia after they were discovered but they have mainly been kept in captivity.

'But in the last 20 years, their numbers in the wild have grown after they have escaped or been released and have started breeding.

'The mute swans are avoiding the new arrival. Though the black swan is smaller, they are dominant and aggressive.

'They out-compete the mute swans and have been known to kill their young. If we were having problems, we would catch the black swans and find them new homes.

'Black swans aren’t allowed to be in the wild. If this pair had eggs, we would have to seize them and cage them and prevent them from flying away.'


The black swan - Cygnus atratus - is native to Australia and not indigenous to the UK

Staff have vowed to catch the interloper and find it a new home if it looks like it will pose a threat to the baby swans

Abbotsbury Swannery has been tending the native species - Cygnus olor in Latin - since the 11th century.

Documents recording the hatchings go back to 1393, while swans have been herded there for 1,000 years.

Unlike most swans, these are not owned by the Queen as they were sold by Henry VIII to the Earls of Abbotsbury.

Traditionally, the first swan of the year hatching at Abbotsbury marks the beginning of summer.


Abbotsbury Swannery has been tending the native species - Cygnus olor in Latin - since the 11th century. Seen here in 1936




source:dailymail

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

Better check your wing mirrors: Swan brings traffic to a standstill on busy motorway

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Why did the swan cross the road? The bird held up traffic near junction 3 of the M4 motorway, west London


Drivers who checked their wing mirrors on the M4 motorway this morning got quite a shock... as a swan calmly waddled across the road.

As traffic crawled along junction 3 at Hayes, west London, the bird even paused halfway across and extended its wings to slow the approach of an oncoming lorry.

Luckily for the swan, there already appeared to be a tailback on the road, which is close to Heathrow, so there was no danger of a high-speed collision.


You looking at me? The swan seemed unfazed by all the attention


And to help the confused pedestrian on its way, a man was seen escorting it across the hard shoulder to safety.

This swan is just the latest in a long line of rogue animals to cause havoc on our roads.

In June last year, runaway cows were sighted, also on the M4, leading to hours of delay.

And in 2009, a herd of pigs escaped onto a motorway in Essex after the lorry carrying them crashed.


Helping hand: A man makes sure the swan reaches safety on the other side


Don't get in a flap: The bird lives to tell the tale


source: dailymail

Swanning around in the road: Feathered family stop the traffic after taking a rest on the Tarmac

Swanning along: This family of swans crossed the B4148 in the Erdington area of Birmingham when they decided to move from a nature reserve to the public park


Busy city dual carriageway brought to a standstill

Birds eventually lifted out of the traffic as drivers get angry


How does the swan cross the dual carriageway? Answer: very, very carefully and very, very slowly.

This family of swans brought traffic to a standstill when they decided to take a short cut across a main city centre road.

And despite wellwishers trying to lure mum, dad and their five cygnets across the busy road to safety they steadfastly refused to budge halfway into their crossing, sparking traffic mayhem.


Move along please: Well wishers try to move the birds along as cars snarl up on the daul carriageway at Erdington in Birmingham


The fluffy family made their way across the busy B4148 after they decided to relocate from Plantsbrook Nature Reserve to Pype Hayes Park.

But instead of making a beeline for their new home they stopped on the tarmac several times before moving on to the central reservation at Eachelhurst Road.

It was only after they had kept the traffic waiting for them to waddle on that passers-by were forced to take matters into their own hands.


Right wait here, I'll be back: The family stop mid crossing slap by the white lines in the middle of the road on the B4148 in Birmingham


Sandra Lee, 63, and her husband Michael, 71, of Erdington, Birmingham, tried to lure the birds across the road with bread and said drivers became frustrated and annoyed by the mounting delay.

Traffic was at a standstill on both lanes for more than ten minutes while the birds were encouraged to move.

Sandra said: 'We discovered the swans on the edge of the pavement. At first it looked like just the two of them but when the mother moved slightly, the babies came out from under her feathers.


Need a hand? The birds are moved by well wishers after they stop traffic as they tried to cross the busy dual carriageway in Erdington, Birmingham


source: dailymail

Ride a white swan: Cygnets take the dry option and hitch a lift on Mum's back

By LOUISE ECCLES

Hitching a ride: The pair of cygnets snuggle themselves into their mother's feathers as they ride along the water at Abbotsbury Swannery


They should take to swimming like, er, a duck to water.

But why bother when you can ride the Mummy Express instead?

These fluffy cygnets opted for the drier – and lazier – option during a family outing in the sun.


A mother's love: The swan uses her beak to tend gently to her cygnet ahead of it's journey


Photographer David Parker said: 'Their mum seemed to be teaching them to swim at first but they soon tired and decided to hitch a ride. They were certainly travelling in style.'

Many cygnets have arrived earlier than usual in the UK this year because of the warm weather.

At Abbotsbury Swannery, on Chesil Beach, Dorset – where this family was pictured – more than 120 pairs of nesting swans have already hatched their cygnets.


All aboard: The two cygnets take their seats in the Mummy Express during their drier - and lazier - outing in the sun


First class travel: The mother swan uses part of her wing to assure that the cygnet is securely in place


Cute: These cygnets are part of the offspring of more than 120 pairs of swans at the swannery in Dorset


The first arrived almost two weeks earlier than usual.

The Benedictine monks who owned the swannery until the 1540s apparently believed the arrival of the first cygnet signalled the first day of summer.

And aptly the first cygnet to arrive this year was named 'Sunny' by swannery staff.


source: dailymail