There once was an ugly duckling

My cousin told me last week that there's a kingfisher flying about Stonebow Washlands. I was tardy so we didn't get there until after 2 pm by which time the light was weak.

But we did see the swans with their cygnets, all about much the same size as Mum and Dad. On reaching the meadow, we saw a large cygnet and his Dad. It soon became apparent that Dad was trying to drive his offspring away because he's getting ready to breed again. Apparently you can tell that from the size of the knob at the base of the swan's beak. The larger the knob, the more ready he is to breed. I've posted a close-up of Dad  in the extras and you can see that he's more than ready.

This particular cygnet appears to be larger than his Dad but he's still immature and not ready to breed. Many of his feathers remain brown. His beak has not changed colour and the knob is not developed. 

I blame the swanographer, who has turned up again. He's giving preference and food to the cygnet. It may yet be that the cygnet eventually turns out to be the more powerful male. He was making enough hissing noises.

Very pleasant to be back at Stonebow especially in the mild temperatures. Basil had a bit of a run. I was glad that the paths were strewn liberally with dead oak leaves that rather soaked up the mud.