Black Swan nesting- Cygnus atratus

(by the Thames at Caversham).
Although I kept coming back and was around the area for a few hours, I only ever saw the one on the nest. I WOULD describe it as 'she', but I just read this (in Wikipedia, so I can't guarantee if correct))

"....An estimated one-quarter of all pairings are homosexual, mostly between males. They steal nests, or form temporary threesomes with females to obtain eggs, driving away the female after she lays the eggs."


The first shot shows some of the white flight feathers and the last shot shows her (him?) adjusting the nest - the head could just make it down to the water and she was busy picking up bits and replacing them.

Well done, nice shots Louise, didn't realise we had a breeding population here.