The cruise package that I booked included a couple of shore excursions. I am not a big fan of being herded on and off of busses, or being in a crowd of people. But being that it was included I picked a couple of tours I thought we might enjoy. This one started with a forced march through a botanical garden, nice things to see, but the walk was arduous, the maps useless and it felt rushed. The onto the Abbotsbury Swannery. This was the highlight of the cruise in many ways.
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| A Male Swan, the bump on the beak, is large on males, and grows larger as they age. |
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| The size and color of the eggs amazed me. |
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| The estimate was 600-800 swans in the preserve at the time we were there. |
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| The Swans are wild, but fed often, keeping them close at hand most of the time. |
The bus tour, I would skip, the Swannery is not to be missed.
Oh how I love swans, they're probably my most favorite of waterfowl. There's a place here in Harrisburg called Italian Lake, that for years has gotten two couples of swans.
ReplyDeleteThere were hundreds of them.
DeleteThe swannery looks and sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteIt was a really neat experience
DeleteThat's a lot of swans but what else would you expect to see at a swannery. About 15 years ago I emailed someone who knew about swans, as there are many at our nearby lake and I was advised that they will limit their numbers at any water area. It's a pity humans don't do this.
ReplyDeleteSwans have been cared for there for centuries. Initially for their feathers, eggs and meat.
DeleteThere is a place down in Sumter we go to every so often called Swan Lake Iris Garden and between the swans and the flowers and the park setting, it makes for a peaceful stroll.
ReplyDeleteI've heard swans can be mean but there sure are beautiful.
These swans are accustomed to having people around, but still they would hiss if you got to close, and we were warned that the can bite very hard.
Deletepretty birdies! 🦢 🦢 🦢 🦢 🦢 🦢 🦢
ReplyDeleteVery, even if they do fly
DeleteYou got some great photos of these beautiful birds. That must have been interesting.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by how close we were to the birds.
DeleteHow marvelous to swan about at a swannery! Wonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteUp close, and pleasant
DeleteSwans migrated though here. End of the year into the new year.
ReplyDeleteI have missed them passing by here, I have seen photos but no birds.
DeleteWhat a lovely stop on your tour!
ReplyDeleteOne Sunday morning in the summer of 1981, my wife and I were walking by Abbotsbury Swannery when by co-incidence we encountered a couple we know from Sheffield. She was one of my past teaching colleagues. It really can be a small world.
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