Mute swan

I was taking photos by the Avon at Stratford this morning, when this cob suddenly began behaving quite aggressively. I couldn't see any reason for it - he wasn't apparently defending a female or competing for food - but he was distinctly cross, and for the next few minutes everything from ducks to other swans gave him a wide berth.

There are a few more shots here, starting with the moment when I realised that something was about to kick off. I almost blipped this one, though it's not pin-sharp, because I liked the quality of the bow wave he was creating and the disappearing tail of his victim, but in the end I chose this because of the light coming through his fluffed wings.