Whooper swans visit each winter from Iceland. They are larger than mute swans and have bright yellow beaks with black tips. Mute swans are not so appropriately named, after all they do honk and hiss. However whooper swans DO live up to their names and very loudly at that!
Here are a couple of whooper swans seen through a reed bed at a local marsh. They were part of a noisy group of thirteen. They look like they need a bit of a clean, just like my car at this time of year.
As well as whooping calls coming from the loch there were also some whistles sounding like rising and falling notes on kazoos. I’ve come to recognize these nasally whistles as being from wigeon, many also being winter visitors from Iceland, Scandinavia and Russia. Here is a photo of a group in flight.
I hear and see wigeon at my local pond in wintertime but they also like to gather in large groups at coastal reserves . They are medium sized ducks and the males have chestnut brown heads and necks with a peachy shade on the forehead. The photos here were taken at Aberlady Bay in East Lothian.
Listen out for these whoopers and whistlers when out and about in winter.
Sarah's Wildlife Watch 