Today's adventure

[Karen]

This afternoon was a nice sunny but not too hot day, so we went as we sometimes do to Broadmoor, a local Audubon Society sanctuary. We always see turtles, sometimes frogs, and earlier this summer had seen the cygnets (baby swans) when they were small grey and fluffy, with their parents standing guard. Saw some ducks and some frogs.

Today Paul got some great pictures, the swans are considered an invasive species and so are not beloved by the Audubon folks. We watched them eat the algae and small plants for a while, then they all lined up to change spots -- it was neat how they just naturally all fell into line!

Papa is in the lead, and the fourth cygnet then mama are just out of the frame:


It's amazing how big they are, but they are still dark grey.

There were a couple very small painted turtles sunning themselves, here's Paul's best shot of one



And the biggest delight was seeing a Great Blue Heron - it was pretty far from us, way out in the middle of the marshy area, so I think this shot came out extremely well ...



And just a few others of it ...

[krazyaboutkatz]

Great pictures. Thanks for sharing these with us.

[chocolatepuppy]

Nice pics! I love turtles!

[Lady's Human]

We have a great blue who hangs around the pond on occasion. Haven't seen any turtles lately, though.

That reminds me, I have to get some tree wrap to protect our apple trees from the deer this winter.

[Asiel]

Good shots, I had no idea swans were considered invasive, we don't have any over here. Thanks for sharing the pictures.

[Alysser]

Great shots, Karen and Paul!! I love these pictures. I can never capture pics of a Great Blue Heron, so kudos to you for getting that shot, Paul!

[redbird]

Enjoyed looking at these beautiful photo's Kare,, I love seeing animals or birds that we just don't see every day.

[cassiesmom]

Wow, I didn't know swans could be considered invasive. There is a park across the street from where I work. It has a pond, and a pair of swans were brought there to help dissuade too many Canada geese from sticking around. These are terrific pictures! I hardly ever get to see a turtle in person.

[momcat]

What a beautiful place! I had no idea that swans are considered invasive! Around here, that's the general opinion of Canada Geese. Love the turtle! It made me think back to high school, one summer I got to babysit the turtles from the biology lab. Great pictures, Paul.

[Karen]

Swans are not native to North America, but to Europe and Russia specifically. Think Swan Lake!

Here they were imported for their beauty, but in some places they can be destructive of underwater plants that native species prefer. The Canadian Geese are also getting to be a problem, numbers-wise in some places, and have extended their range further south than it traditionally existed. Swans, funny enough, have been brought in in some places to cut down on the number of Canadian Geese, as swans are monogamous and very territorial, unlike the geese who can hang about in ever-increasing flocks.

Paul is by far the most patient photographer ever, so gets better wildlife pictures! My camera batteries were dead, so I didn't take any that day!

[Queen of Poop]

Fabulous pics Paul. Thank you Karen for sharing them.

[phesina]

Oh, what a lovely day.. and what beautiful photographs of so many beautiful creatures! Thank you, Karen and Paul!

[Freedom]

Great photos! I've not heard of Broadmoor before.

Some turtles feed on the cynets when they are very small. We have the turtles, Canadian geese, ducks, swans and herons at Turner Reservoir (where I walk the dogs at Bridgham Farm). I hate going in Spring as you see 9 cygnets and then there are only 8 . . . . I know it is Nature, but it makes me sad.

Did not know swans will move the geese out; that hasn't occurred at the Reservoir, lol, they all seem to co exist.

[Alysser]

I can vouge that Swans are very territorial and just plain nasty. I interned at a wildlife refuge last summer and was attacked by a Swan every other day walking into the building.

[smokey the elder]

At one of my old jobs we had a pair of swans in the pond; they always lost their cygnets to the snapping turtles who also made that pond their home.

Great pics!