One for the Ornithologists

[sparkythecat]

I saw a number of mute swans grazing in a nearby field this afternoon. Amongst them was a bird I've not seen before and wondered what it was.
It looked like a swan, and was the same size and profile as the mute swans, but was jet black, with the exception of a white bar in each wing.

I took some photos with my phone , but it was too far away to appear other than a vaguely swan shaped black thing.

Any suggestions?

[Rollin]

Tis a black swan

ETA Australian

[Gargamel]

It's natalie portman

[DrTre]

It's called a token swan.

[johnnywgk]

WOW!!!!!! THAT IS A GOLDEN EAGLE, they taste very much like swan. HTH.

[neilsfishing]

long neck rabit (dark rabit)

[PHmember]

Aye, t'is a black swan (Cygnus atratus), we have them in Dawlish, they are very rare. Funnily enough I took some pics on Wednesday:

[johnnywgk]

PHmember said:

Aye, t'is a black swan (Cygnus atratus), we have them in Dawlish, they are very rare. Funnily enough I took some pics on Wednesday:

Shirlry, that's an ugly duckling.





ps please don't post that on the football threads. They (liverpool) don't
like ugly ducklings.

[central]

Black Swan.

Escapes from collections turn up just about anywhere in the UK from time to time.

[Waspy1]

Are you sure they are mute swans?

Lots of Bewick's Swans in Lancashire this time of year.

[central]

Waspy1 said:

Are you sure they are mute swans?

Lots of Bewick's Swans in Lancashire this time of year.

It's possible.

[sparkythecat]

Waspy1 said:

Are you sure they are mute swans?

Lots of Bewick's Swans in Lancashire this time of year.

No, these are the resident mute swans on the Lune estuary and its environs. We've got hundreds of them all year round.

Thanks for all the replies, it would appear then, that it is a black swan