Swan Wars.

The Battle of Gaddon Loch

The peace of the resident couple of mute swans (Cygnus olor) was shattered with the arrival of not one but three hopeful cobs.

One in particular fancied his chances and approached the resident male to test his strength and resolve. He approached about half a dozen times allowing himself to be driven back.

He obviously thought he was in with a chance because he moved on to phase two - the posturing. With wings raised and neck arched well back between the wings, the two swam back and forth in parallel sizing each other up.

The newcomer still thought there was a chance for him and the physical contact began. First, they pressed brows together testing the opponent's strength then the violence began in earnest. With much flapping and splashing, they stretched past each-other's necks and attempted to pull feathers from the lower back of the opponent, sometimes taking a grip on a wing. Something of a wrestling match rather than a boxing bout.

Eventually, it became clear that the contest would be decided by whichever managed to climb on the back of the other and submerge it. I am not sure if this was an attempt to drown it, or whether by simulating coitus, it embarrassed it into submission.

During this aggressive phase, the pen (female) was swimming round them appearing agitated.

Having won the battle, it didn't take long to see off the intruders and the pair climbed out of the water onto a raft and began preening. The male had a lot of repair work to do if the amount of white down floating on the water was anything to go by.

From start to finish, the whole event took 40 minutes.


I have put more of the sequence onto my Flickr site. Here is the link.