I returned to Lake Katherine to photograph the baby swans yesterday. At this point, the cygnets were 8 days old. While I was there, I captured some photograph of other birds--a Canada goose and a mallard duck.
1- It is quite challenging to isolate a cygnet in a photograph. It is rare for one to wander any distance from the others. But, an opportunity for this picture finally presented itself after about an hour into the photo session!
2- There are six cygnets in total...and one unhatched egg in the nest. Fortunately, all six were still alive yesterday. It isn't unusual for a few to fall to a predator in this early stages of life. I'm told the turtles are one of the main predators at Lake Katherine.
3- This is the cob, or male mute swan. His wing span is about 8 feet. He is quite intimidating and aggressively chases away nearly anything that approaches--geese, people and even small dogs. He was fine with me as long as I stayed ten feet or more away and low to the ground.
4- The pen, or female mute swan, stayed still for long enough for me to capture a detailed image of her feathers.
5- I'm not a fan of the Canada geese as they can be a real nuisance in our neighborhoods. But, I liked the background enough to take this portrait.
6- I noticed that the baby swans are already bigger than they were when I visited last (when they were 5 days old). This seemed most noticeable in that their necks appeared a bit longer.
7- A male mallard duck
8- I will have to spend a lot more time with these swans to capture a suitable family portrait. No matter how long I waited, the 8 of them would just not all look into the camera at once!
I really enjoyed spending time out at this lake with the swans...especially during the coronavirus restrictions that we are under here in the state of Illinois.
Thanks again for looking...
Glenn
1- It is quite challenging to isolate a cygnet in a photograph. It is rare for one to wander any distance from the others. But, an opportunity for this picture finally presented itself after about an hour into the photo session!
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2- There are six cygnets in total...and one unhatched egg in the nest. Fortunately, all six were still alive yesterday. It isn't unusual for a few to fall to a predator in this early stages of life. I'm told the turtles are one of the main predators at Lake Katherine.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
3- This is the cob, or male mute swan. His wing span is about 8 feet. He is quite intimidating and aggressively chases away nearly anything that approaches--geese, people and even small dogs. He was fine with me as long as I stayed ten feet or more away and low to the ground.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
4- The pen, or female mute swan, stayed still for long enough for me to capture a detailed image of her feathers.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
5- I'm not a fan of the Canada geese as they can be a real nuisance in our neighborhoods. But, I liked the background enough to take this portrait.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
6- I noticed that the baby swans are already bigger than they were when I visited last (when they were 5 days old). This seemed most noticeable in that their necks appeared a bit longer.
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
7- A male mallard duck
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
8- I will have to spend a lot more time with these swans to capture a suitable family portrait. No matter how long I waited, the 8 of them would just not all look into the camera at once!
Subscribe to see EXIF info for this image (if available)
I really enjoyed spending time out at this lake with the swans...especially during the coronavirus restrictions that we are under here in the state of Illinois.
Thanks again for looking...
Glenn
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