Three whooper swans

These swans migrate to Orkney and the rest of the UK from, mainly, Iceland. They are not the common 'mute swan' that breeds on our ponds and lakes.
Up to the Loch of Skaill where these and a couple other whoopers were glad of the open water- much of the loch was frozen. Quite a few goldeneye there too. The snow had been nice on the bus from Kirkwall but sleety rain soon started and the snow wasn't long in disappearing. I walked the shore and cliffs at the Bay of Skaill and was picked up by the bus at Skara Brae. More photos here.