"TROUBLE IN PARADISE"

Trumpeter Swans (Adult) - 9 Photos

Swans appear to have this angelic or seraphic quality, maybe because of their pure white colour (in the adults) & their grace in flight (Photo #1). However, this gracefulness doesn't transpose when it comes to their movement on land, which brings us to the dialogue & photos below.

These two swans from their closeness & familiarity with each other were obviously a pair & being Trumpeter Swans, life mates. Having managed to climb onto an icy shoreline from the river, appeared quite content to groom & nap.

And then the largest of the two (the male) and the furthest from the water, decided it was time for a drink. Rather than try to navigate the icy platform by slipping & sliding its way round its mate, one of a swans' ungainly movements, the quickest way was to push "Mrs." out of the way.

Subtlety isn't perhaps a swan's strongest suit. Much better to bite its mate to facilitate a move (Photo #2 to Photo #7). And, of course, its mate relinquished and moved back into the water (Photo #8).

And then that allowed the male to partake of some cold river water (Photo #9).

Amusingly, for some time after, the two remained apart but eventually all appeared to be forgiven and they were back on the ice, side by side.

So it appears that bird pairings have their little spats too. The disagreements don't appear to last too long though.

PHOTO #1

PHOTO #2

PHOTO #3

PHOTO #4

PHOTO #5

PHOTO #6

PHOTO #7

PHOTO #8

PHOTO #9