Whoopers of Spiggie

On the Loch of Spiggie in Dunrossness I saw seven whooper swans swimming about. For a while, I could not tell if they were geese, for they are not as shapely as the mutes with which we English are more familiar.

Whoopers offer a wonderful picture of family bliss. As well as pairing for life, their cygnets stay with them all winter while previous years’ young sometimes return to join their parents. Both genders build the nest, and the male stands guard while the female incubates.

Our own mothers, fathers, husbands, wives and children could learn a thing or two from this noble bird.

Top image by Johnny_px from Pixabay