One thing I love about this time of year is that a flock of trumpeter swans takes up temporary residence. They rest and feed in a fallow field here.
They’re huge birds, standing up to 5 feet with a wingspan up to 80 inches. Grey feathered juveniles hang out with the adults. The group makes quiet honking sounds as they go about pecking for food in the soil, plant materials and crop waste.
The trumpeting honks suddenly picked up as I watched and groups of swans came in for a landing. (Don’t adjust your glasses…this and the next shot aren’t in good focus.)
They didn’t need much of a runway.
The trumpeter swans that visit us come from populations that nest in Alaska.
Nice sight. Looks like you got fairly close to them.
Standby for their return next spring.
These are such interesting birds! I don’t think I’ve ever seen them in person so I appreciate your photos very much. Can’t believe how big they are! And graceful. And noisy! 🙂
Those are some wonderful close-ups of a bird I have never seen. It must be fun to stand, watch and photograph them. Well done Kay!
They’re beauties to behold.
Great shots – especially the landing ones – I take zillions of photos of them landing, it seems, and only a few are even slightly clear. We had some of them on the pond near our house last week – and of course no place to safely pull over for photos and I was so surprised to see them there that I didn’t have my camera ready – maybe they’ll come again. Merry Christmas my friend.
They must be cool to see. Like big versions of Canada geese.