up before the beak

i was determined to get something new for a blip today, and decided to go out over the park to st margaret's loch - also, i wanted some pix of the park for a friend who's planning a trip over here next year. two birds, one stone, etc. in fact, there were dozens of birds and a woman with a binliner full of bread (and, mysteriously, sliced scotch eggs - they aren't good for humans, so no idea what they do to birds!).

when the woman and attendant kids had gone, the swans turned to their preening, pulling lots of yogatastic poses with those necks to fluff up and smooth down, and plenty of this going on too. fascinating to watch, frustrating to photograph tho, i need more practice before it's perfect. so excuse the slight out of focus, but isn't this lovely? (the grey background is the water of the loch, yes, how lovely.)

i like swans, all serene and elegant on top, paddling madly underneath. and they mate for life, y'know. i'm just saying...