One of the youngsters was sitting on Mom's back and I was saying aloud, "No way!" as I pulled over to get some shots. Last year, this pair had one baby so six was stunning, to me.
One of the cygnets seemed to be saying, "Dad, why don't I get a ride!?".
Once I came down to the bank of the lake the Swans turned around back toward me and the few others now gathering behind me. Dad was rafting (some birds and sea mammals raise a leg into the air to regulate body temperature like this) and led the family back towards us.
This let me get some close up shots of the youngsters. A lady across the street puts out seed every morning and the birds in the lake are always looking for a handout.
Who can resist trying to get cute shots of a cygnet Mute Swan on a beautiful day? Mute Swans are not native and some do not like the fact that they breed here now but...
While I was shooting away, a female Boat-tailed Grackle flew in next to me as if saying, "Hey, what about me?". I could barely get it in focus as it came so close.
The Mute Swans soon figured out that we had no food from us and began to head back out into the center of the lake. One of the other cygnets was busy trying to get onto Mom's back to join the current rider. Interesting that I recently saw a post that someone posted that swans do not carry babies on their backs. Need more proof?
Now that the other baby was on board, they left us.
Maybe it was the fact that all of the Winter ducks are gone, but I love seeing more bird life next to home. Good luck to the cygnets.
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