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Mute Swans

3,770 36

Mark Billiau.

Premium (World), region Antwerp, Belgium

Mute Swans

This beautiful and monogamous bird is usually known as lovely and gentle but it can be tremendously aggressive in defence of its nest.
Its size and impressive hissing make it a formidable adversary for animals as large as a fox.

Mute Swans even attack people who enter their territory during the breeding season as I could experience myself a couple of years ago.

Dutch name : Knobbelzwaan
German name : Höckerschwan
Latin name : Cygnus olor

Comments 36

Nikonfan50 05/02/2013 12:43
Wow, das ist perfekt, Licht, Farben, Schärfe, alles beindruckend!
Gruß Wilfried
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Inge Stüwe 28/09/2012 18:26
Man spürt die Ruhe am See...,
eine ganz fantastische Aufnahme dieser Höckerschwäne, schön, mit dieser Spiegelung.
Liebe Grüße
Inge
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Jürgen Bürgin 03/01/2010 21:44
Great swan foto!
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s. sabine krause 15/11/2009 15:14
what a beautiful couple! and a beautiful pose. looks as though the left one is protecting his mate from harm… but you are right: there's too much positive symbolism attached to these imposing birds! i've seen swans at hamburg harbor fight over a carcass of a duck, literally tear it apart and then eat it!! so good-bye to gentleness and purity ; ))… have a great sunday, mark! greetings, sabine.
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Ralf Zeeh 01/02/2009 17:53
Excellent picture.
Greetings,Ralf

Havanna
Ralf Zeeh

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BRYAN CRUTE 09/01/2009 8:57
I also have faced these things when angry :-)
Beautiful exposure to the swans, fine work

Regards
Bryan
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Pozer Katalin 15/12/2008 19:01
Be careful, Mark! I am worried about you :-)
Nice shot. They does not looks like aggressive at all.
Hugs, Kati
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Burits Pál 07/12/2008 23:07
Salute to the author!
Bp
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Henry H 07/12/2008 11:32
Dein Bild zeigt den Stolz der Vögel wunderbar. Sehr kraftvolles und zugleich ruhiges Foto.
VG Henry
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Wendy de With 05/12/2008 21:04
Yeah they can be very aggressive, looks like that left one is keeping an eye on you too here. Nice capture.
Greetings, Wendy
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Saska S. 04/12/2008 22:18
Beautiful image, nice mood.
Regards, Saska
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Cees Kuijs 04/12/2008 20:41
Excellent angle, Mark !!
Perfect details in the white parts !
Love the reflection !!
Greetings, Cees
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j.a.j.jansen m. 04/12/2008 19:11
A great shot, well done.
Regards, Jan.
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Luc Grollie 04/12/2008 18:45
lovely compo with very fine details in the difficilt white feathers....
brilliant shot Mark !!!!
greetz,
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Bernd Brügging 04/12/2008 18:45
Klasse gesehen und super festgehalten. Bin absolut begeistert!
HG
Bernd
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