Mute swans swimming on the sea, towards the mouth of the River Ness.

There are quite a few non-breeding Swans that spend their Summer around the Beauly and Cromarty Firths. It may be that they're not quite mature enough to breed, or that they don't have partners. Heading to any inland waters would likely bring them into close proximity to breeding pairs, which would only lead to territorial troubles. Safer at sea!