Tuesday 16 June 2015

WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY - Mute Swans with 5 Cygnets at Portavoe Resevoir.

These photographs and video were photographed last week when I took my bird group to Portavoe Reservoir, near Groomsport. We were very surprised the adult swans brought their young over to see us.  Enjoy the photos and I have given you little snippets of information regarding swans.


Swans begin breeding between the ages of 3-4 years.


Swan eggs take between 35 and 42 days to hatch.


Swans can fly as fast as 60 miles per hour!


Cygnophobia or kiknophobia is the fear of swans.


Swans are highly intelligent and remember who has been kind to them, or not.


In 2001, a man in Ireland had his leg broken by a swan when he was trying to provoke it.


A group of wild swans is known as a herd, however a group in captivity are called a fleet.


There are six different species of swans.


The swan has over 25000 feathers in its body.








An adult male is the only bird that has a penis.



On the video I said Portmore instead, it should be Portavoe!
If the video does not appear below CLICK HERE.



I hope you enjoyed the photos, video and information.

Lots more birds to see as tomorrow I start a 4 day series on visiting 
Inch Wildlife Reserve at Lough Swilly, Co. Donegal.

I am linking this post with WILD BIRD WEDNESDAY.


Many thanks for visiting and also to those who leaves comments. 

32 comments:

  1. The cygnets are adorable! You have to love those fluffy balls.

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  2. I adore cygnets. Feathered enchantment.
    The man who had his leg broken deserved it. No sympathy from me. None.

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    1. HI Sue I definiately agree with you. Have a great evening.

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  3. Hi Margaret,
    Beautiful pictures of the mute swans, also interesting information.
    The video is beautiful.
    Best regards, Irma

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  4. Hello Margaret, thanks for sharing the swan info and the lovely photos and video. The cygnets are just adorable. Enjoy your day!

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  5. Wow, great close-up, and they are a beautiful part of nature. I especially always enjoy seeing the babies!

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  6. Lovely, lovely photos, and your swan facts were so interesting. Great Post!

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  7. Oh wow how great are these images of the swans. And what interesting facts you've divulged. I never even thought about swans flying much, let alone so fast. The swan young are so cute. Thanks for sharing. Jo

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  8. Beautiful, even with the ugly ducklings.

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  9. Nice photos of the swans. Those fluffy babies are adorable!

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  10. Ohhh so lovley photo number 5 is my favorite ,Nette

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  11. The cygnets are just so adorable.

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  12. These are adorable pictures. The little ones look so soft.

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  13. Some fascinating and often neglected information there Margaret. It doesn't take long for adult Mutes to introduce their youngsters to handouts from Joe Public does it?

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  14. Margaret,
    small swans are adorable.
    A big? This royal birds.
    Greetings.
    Lucia

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  15. Swans are so elegantly beautiful. The cygnets are fluffy and adorable. Great stills and video, Margaret.

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  16. Swans are so elegantly beautiful. The cygnets are fluffy and adorable. Great stills and video, Margaret.

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  17. A charming series of pics Margaret.

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  18. What beautiful birds - and the babies are just darling!

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  19. Enjoyed the beautiful photos of the swans, and the interesting facts. What surprised me the most is their top speed--60 mph! That's pretty fast!

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  20. Portavoe is a bird free zone! Any time I have visited it has not produced a lot other than mallard, swan, grebe and a few garden birds. Orlock is usually better. It's a nice walk I you have a dog to exercise.

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    1. Hi Derek My bird group wanted to go there and alhtough there were not a great number of birds they all enjoyed it as quite a number had NEVER been before.

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  21. Beautiful fluffy babies.
    60 M.P.H - amazing.

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  22. Splendid images! Read the info with great interest.

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  23. What a joy to have the opportunity to see these lovely swans and their babies. Great shots Margaret!

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  24. Adorable birds and babies. Lovely set, Margaret!
    Have a Wonderful Day!!
    Peace :)

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  25. Gorgeous captures and very interesting information!

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  26. Beautiful shots of the white swans and signets Margaret. We have black swans here in Western Australia, however there is a colony of white swans on the Avon River in Northam about 90 klms from Perth.

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  27. such a wonderful family. There are swans where I live but I never see any chicks. :(

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