Monday 10 October 2011

Swan Lake



The start of our lane runs  through the middle of several large fields. Used mainly for sheep and occasionally cattle. At this time of year geese move in and graze, and as and from yesterday.... 
A Whooper Swan dropped in. I wasn't sure at first
He was a long way off. He could have been a thin sheep with long legs
but then he became very swan like and glided up and down  on an extra large puddle in the far field. When I got home I 'googled' Whooper Swans;  they like wet grasslands which is perfect, as the grass here is wet in the extreme.  He may have flown in from Iceland. It must be warm, sunny and dry here by comparison? His  puddle is unlikely to dry up within the next few days....
the rain arrives up the loch at regular ten five minute intervals
and pours off the hillsides by the bucketful
It does have a certain beauty, and I'm trying to look on the positive side. The house doesn't leak
which is more than can be said for some of us....!
I passed these two in the lane as I was walking home
It doesn't matter how many cars and people the sheep see, they always fly into panic mode and behave as if they've never quite seen anything like it before!

14 comments:

ju-north said...

Looks familiar - but still beautiful!

Dan said...

Hi Annie
Are they called Whooper swans because of their call, or something else?
I love the picture of the sheep in the bracken, and also the water falling through the rocks - really lovely!
Dan
-x-

Linda said...

The sheep obviously think you are quite mad!

S. Etole said...

I like those two "friends" chatting across the fence. Your photos are always so beautiful.

Diane said...

Wow, what fantastic photos as usual! I love the one of the rain pouring off the hillside by the bucketful. The swan is a wonderful too. Are those two sheep on the way to inspect your newly located shed or to help build the garage? Keep dry! Di xx

ADRIAN said...

A beautiful post. The Whooper is a find. Funny there is only the one. I've always seen them in family groups.

Susan said...

Always stunning and interesting! It's such a pleasure to read (and view!) your blog, Annie. It's my favorite place to visit.

annie hoff said...

Hi Dan, Whooper swans are noisy and gregarious frequently giving a bugling 'whoop-whoop' call - according to my bird book that is, so maybe that's where the name comes from?

annie hoff said...

Yes Linda, I'm sure the sheep think all humans are mad! They have a look in their eye that says 'mad woman alert' every time I come by!

annie hoff said...

Hi Diane - there will be trouble if those sheep come any where near my garden shed..!

annie hoff said...

Adrian, maybe this swan was tired or off course somehow? There were a pair last year on a loch not far from here. It's the first time I've seen one in the field in the lane.

Mac n' Janet said...

It's still raining here, it doesn't run off it just gets boggier.
Love your whooper swan, had never heard of them.

Elizabeth said...

Oh what stunning scenery. That picture of the water dripping onto the stones is absolutely fbulous. x

old_black said...

I just love that photo of the lots of little streams of water coming from the ground. It certainly looks wet - great to see the pictures, but I'm not sure I'd want to experience it.

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