Winter Whoopers

As the year nears it's end I thought I would post a few images of whooper swans which I have come across on my travels this winter.As the swans were arriving from Iceland a small party dropped in at Leighton Moss R.S.P.B.It is unusual to see whoopers at Leighton Moss and their presence was not welcomed by the resident mute swans.The whoopers were harried and pestered throughout the day by the mute swans and eventually departed. They would probably have headed south for the Lancashire mosslands to join the hundreds already present at places like Martin Mere. The other group I came across were feeding in flooded fields at Cockerham Moss.This large group consisted of around 400 birds and was present for a number of days. They too moved on but are possibly still around the Pilling area as good numbers are still present in the Eagland Hill area.Shown below the whoopers at Leighton Moss under attack from the mute swans and the big flock at Cockerham Moss with the snow covered Lakeland Fells as a backdrop.Thanks for looking in and hopefully I may manage another posting before the end of the year.