Whoopee!

In amongst the mute swans at Hogganfield Loch was this very cheery looking whooper swan. Whilst the mutes had their beaks closed this one had his open most of the time, maybe this youngster was extra hungry having flown in from Iceland. It looked like he or she was grinning.

Whooper swans are named from the whooping call they make.

There was one other whooper swan on the loch, preening further out.

Three cormorants were perched on a log, the two end ones drying out their wings.

After our walk at Hogganfield Loch we went a further walk along by the canal. We were delighted to see a kingfisher, striking a beautiful electric blue dash as it skimmed over the autumn golds and oranges reflected in the water. Alas we lost it and I was unable to get a photograph apart from this blurry one.

Today we returned to the canal and it zipped past us again but then was seen no more! Nevertheless their were some other highlights. A female goosander was fishing, disappearing under the water then re-emerging further along.

And a grey squirrel scrambled down to the water’s edge to take a drink. I’ve never seen that before.

Finally some goldfinches were twittering amongst the seed heads on the canal banks. They were showing off their splendid colours in the late afternoon sun.

Well, I’ve not been able to take any decent kingfisher photos at all this year. But “whoopee!” I know there is at least one back by the canal, and the hunt will continue …