Following on from part 1, we’re still photographing swans, because , well you can’t have enough magnificent swan pictures really. 🙂
The familiar pose with neck curved back and wings half raised, known as busking, is a threat display. Both feet are paddled in unison during this display, resulting in a more jerky movement. The swans may also use the busking posture for wind-assisted transportation over several hundred meters, so-called windsurfing.
The mute swan is one of the heaviest flying birds. In several studies from Great Britain, males (known as cobs) were found to average from about 10.6 to 11.87 kg (23.4 to 26.2 lb), with a weight range of 9.2–14.3 kg (20–32 lb) while the slightly smaller females (known as pens) averaged about 8.5 to 9.67 kg (18.7 to 21.3 lb), with a weight range of 7.6–10.6 kg (17–23 lb). The most familiar sound associated with mute swans is the vibrant throbbing of the wings in flight which is unique to the species, and can be heard from a range of 1 to 2 km (0.6 to 1 mi), indicating its value as a contact sound between birds in flight.
We often come across other people walking around the lake and now and again I can sneak in a people picture, in this case a little people picture’
and two couples, people and swans,
but rarely do we come across people in or on the lake, so this lot gave us a nice surprise.
they were having a grand time!
and swans are not the only birds at the lake though these are in a dead tree.
And that’s about it for Bolam Lake. Next time we’re popping around the corner to revisit St.Andrews Church so stay tooned for that!
Lovely images – reflections on the water always add to an image I think 🙂
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Cheers Steve!
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Love the expressions on those little girls! Happy Sunday!
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Thanks Jo, you too!
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The first photo, the large one: Was the weather on drugs, the water or the photog?
Fantastic. 🙂
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Cheers Orca! No drugs involved 😊
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Swans always remind me of my walk to school as I walked along the canal bank, swans and ducks patrolling.
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Nice memories – if they didn’t get your legs!
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I’ve never understood the appeal of kneeboarding, as it looks like it just hurts! Give me an activity I can do while keeping my fanny firmly planted on a nice comfortable seat 🙂
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Even more painful as you get older. I wouldn’t be able to stand up straight for a while after that.
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yeah, me neither 😀
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Totally agree Booky!
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Here’s to comfort and ease!
* raises a glass *
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Always! Cheers!
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I never knew that about the ‘sound’ of ‘mute’ swans!…and great shots, love the wee girls.
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Cheers Clare!
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The little girls made me smile, as did the swans. The paddleboarders worried me a bit, as I’m sure you’re supposed to be standing. Possibly it’s that the thought of doing that to my knees makes me feel ill.
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Yes my knees wouldn’t be happy either! Cheers April.
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Does this lake have a resident monster? That would really increase tourism.
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I think the only Lake monster lives in Scotland, this one seems to be safe. We don’t really get many tourists up here, which is how we like it!
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Do the people eventually turn into swans, or the other way around?
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Not sure really, I’d think the swans turn into people at night only, but I’m leaning on Tchaikovsky here.
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Lovely photographs as always. I really like the first image. At first glance it’s as sharp as a woodcut or fine line illustration…
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Cheers Rich!
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Lovely, says it well.
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Cheers Marland!
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👍
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liking the venetian-blind effect in numero uno 💖
✨🙏🕉☀🌙⚖🪔🕊♾🈚☯🌍🐲🙋♂️
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Cheers G!
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🙂
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A beautiful stroll around the lake. I’ve learned so much about swans from your photo posts!
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Every day’s a school day here 🤣 thanks Mae!
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Thanks, Teach! 🙂
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👩🎓😁
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We always have just one pair of swans on the local river. I suspect they have been around a long while, and have mated for life. They are wary of Ollie if he gets close to the bank, or into the river near them. But they ignore me.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Cheers Pete, we have a small lake near us that has a single pair, I always wonder where the grown up cygnets end up.
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Great shots, all of them, but I like the first one best. It’s fantastic.
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Thanks Pit!
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👍
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Oh these made me smile all the way through. How fun! Capturing the little girls and family on the lake ~ splendid Fraggle! Hugs, C
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It was fun to see people doing stuff! 🙂
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I like the dark mirror-like contrast of the lake with the white elegant swans. Indeed we cannot have enough pictures of them : ) Thank you, fragglerocking
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Thanks Francis, they are so photogenic!
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These are all wonderful shots, but my favourites are the first one of the branches in the water and the black & white of the children. Good job!!!
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Thanks Connie!
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Nice shots. Paddleboards do seem to have gotten very popular over the past few years.
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Yes. Don’t think I’ll be partaking anytime soon, not a good sailor 😀
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