I decided that today was to be a day of complete relaxation after my hectic weekend and I enjoyed a wonderful lie in, followed by a late breakfast and a lazy morning. I could quite easily have dozed for most of the afternoon. However, I decided that some fresh air would probably do me just as much good so I popped over to the WWT reserve at Arundel for an hour or two this afternoon. When I visited the centre back in April the resident pair of Black Necked Swans had just hatched four adorable white cygnets. On my subsequent visits in June they’d grown a lot (although sadly only three of them had survived) but were still very dependent on their parents. When I popped by their enclosure today I found that they’re now looking much more swan-like and their adult black neck plumage is beginning to show through. Dad was still as protective as ever, hissing at me and keeping them close at hand, although I was hardly a threat with a sturdy wire fence separating us!

nice:) teresac57 · 2012-08-13: 17:48

Their faces are so adoreable..... Love that you captured the water droplets in #1 & 2. durban · 2012-08-13: 19:23

Beautifully photographed! lgnelson · 2012-08-13: 20:09

These are super in every way! Bravo! Lsample · 2012-08-13: 20:13

Beautiful! Shaparak · 2012-08-13: 23:08

Beautiful series, Helen !The first one with three drops of water falling of its beak is very delicate josy63 · 2012-08-14: 00:34

wow detail slowpete · 2012-08-14: 02:35

wow, superb! kwibusje · 2012-08-14: 11:17

These are lovely.I added no. 1 to my favourites. elizzi · 2012-08-14: 16:56

really lovely MoMac · 2012-08-15: 14:09

Tagged: swan wwtarundel cygnet wildlife