Whooper Swans are the Eurasian cousin of North American Trumpeter swans.
They breed all over Iceland, and some overwinter in the thermally heated parts of Lake Myvatn. Interestingly, their North American Trumpeter Swan cousins do the same thing, spending winter in the thermally heated parts of the Yellowstone River.
These beauties are aptly named as they certainly seem to enjoy trumpeting!
Whooper Swans mate for life,
and their cygnets, and grown offspring, often overwinter with them.
Cheers to you from Iceland’s beautiful swans~
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Beautiful pictures! They seem to be calm in most of them…posing for you!
Thank you, they were curious and interactive which was wonderful.
wunderschön, liebe Cindy
Vielen dank mein lieber Freund!
incredible photos of such a beautiful bird, happy day to you Cindy
Thanks so much & happy Friday Eddie!
We have mute swans here, but not on the local lake, as they tend to group on the drains.
Swans are never seen where I live, so I think you are very lucky.
They are so graceful, and we had several on the marina, so could watch their cygnets grow up. My Mum loved swans, so I always think of her when | see them.
STUNNING—photography & 🎺 ers
I’m so envious of your travels!! Enjoy!!
I look forward to seeing what you will find and share next.
Thank You for what you do.
What a thoughtful comment and thank you so much for traveling with me. You make the experience better.
I’m ready to hear about any and all adventures!!! And the fact that see so many fabulous discoveries is astounding. With your photography and words you share the world. The world is a beautiful place.
The world is a beautiful place and people like you make it much more so <3
Right back at ya friend!!!
Such magnificent creatures. Great photos!
So happy you enjoyed them & cheers to you.
Beautiful post, Cindy.
Takk fyrir!
What fancy beaks they have! Great photos, Cindy. 🙂
Yes. They are especially beautiful.
Lovely!
Takk fyrir.
So beautiful. Nature gives us her best. Thanks, Cindy the photos are amazing as ever. 🙂 xx
Mother Nature is the world’s best artist. Hugs to you Lea~
Without a doubt. What a shame we don’t respect and care for her but seem bent on her distruction. Sorry, one of my soapbox issues, like what is going on in Washington… Bisous mon amie, Cindy.
Both these topics are beyond depressing. I agree. This is why I hang out with critters as much as possible. They are so much more civilized.
I cannot bear what is going on there. My poor felines have to perform countless therapy sessions… You are correct. We; have much to learn from our more civilized friends. Alas, we have to be intelligent enough to follow their lead. xx
Love you Lea. It is sad when the world becomes sad <3
<3
Food would be scarce in winter. I wonder what they would eat during the dark months of the year.
They eat aquatic plants, roots, and tubers, but I imagine winter must be difficult for them.
Wow they are beautiful! I wonder why they like the cooler climates. Any ideas?
In Lake Myvatn, parts of the lake are thermally heated from volcanic activity. These keeps the water warmer and ice free during winter. Swans must have open, unfrozen water to survive. They fluff up their feathers like down coats, trapping heat, and go into a sort of torpor, conserving energy. They must also consume more calories to keep generating body heat.
Beautiful creatures! 😻
They are. Happy Friday Linda~
These swans are beautiful ! Thanks for sharing Cindy.
Thanks my friend & great to hear from you!
What majestic creatures!! Thank you for showing them to us, Cindy! By the way, are the babies snow-white, too??
They are soft, adorable, very-pale, gray.
Awww, downy babies!!
I know they are so irresistible!
Lovely! Thanks Cindy. 🙂
Hugs to you, and thank you sweet Ranu <3
They are so beautiful. xxx
I am very happy you think so & cheers to you Adele!
Nice touch of yellow on the beck, Cindy.
Leslie
Mother Nature rocks things right!
She really does, Cindy….
<3
Oh, they are beautiful.
They are indeed and respond well to respectful observation.
They’re beautiful! The yellow really stands out on their beaks <3
It does and it makes them striking looking.
Really beautiful!
Takk fyrir!
Surely some of the most beautiful birds ( not sure If they are actually in the bird family. ) Iceland is a paradise of beautiful and unique creatures ! Happy travels Cindy!
Awww, thank you & hugs to you <3
Hugs <3
<3
I love the color of their beaks! Beautiful photos! 🙂
Thank you! Their coloration is striking.
Beautiful swans and images Cindy. Thanks for sharing your passions.
Aww, thank you more for appreciating them Brad & happy weekend~
Thank you. 🙂
<3
I love swans. I think they are so beautiful.
They are wonderful creatures in every way and respond so well to respect.
When I was 3 or 4 in Fairford in the UK, I got chased by one. Definitely need to respect them! 🤣
Oh, yes. That must have been so frightening for you at that age.
I ran as fast as I could. 😄
I bet. Traumatic.
They are as beautiful as theirTrumpeter cousins, although I do see the difference. These gorgeous creatures have been captured wonderfully by you, dear amazing Cindy!
I so love our Trumpeters, but I can never get close to them and have to travel far to see them. I know, lucky one, have them nearby.
Cheers! 🙂 xo
Cheers to you sweet Bette!
These are gorgeous photos – such beautiful birds! 🙂
I love them. They don’t seem aggressive either, but I am sure they could be if the situation required it.
They almost look too good to be true, how wonderful!
Nature wonders are just that, wonders!
I’ve never seen such beautiful swans…those yellow beaks are so different from the black beaks of our local swans…happy travels!
Thank you and yes, they are beautiful, with the bright yellow beaks, and seemed quite placid compared to other swans I have seen
Beautiful. What’s their noise like? Did you hear?
I did and it is lovely. Listen and see what you think:
Oh thanks
What lovely conversations they have!
Yes, I wonder what they are saying….
So beautiful. I love the photo where it’s beak is open. He/She has got something to say. 🙂
He certainly does and has no need for assertiveness training!
They are beautiful. I am wondering they must be crammed together in the heated part of the river. That must be a great sight to see.
Iceland in the winter would be spectacular, but oh so cold. I would love to see the swans in winter and would imagine the water would steam in the frigid air.
Smart birds, finding heated water. I imagine the land around those ponds is rather warm too. Nature has a place for everybody. Beautiful photographs!
Nature is so amazing. The more I see of it, the more in awe I get.
Thank you for broadcasting so much beauty.
Thank you more for your kind appreciation.
Incredible photos! Same camera as the roadrunner?
Thanks so much and yes, same camera. Have a wunderbar weekend!
Danke! Gleichfalls! 🙋
<3
Gorgeous. Truly gorgeous.
Awww, like your <3 sweet friend~
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Thanks so much & cheers to you!
Quite beautiful, Cindy. And I imagine from your description, quite noisy. –Curt
It’s a melodic sound though. I included a sample a couple comments up. Cheers to you Curt &
welcome back~
Are they as talkative as Canadian Geese? (Who also mate for life.) Thanks, Cindy. I confess to missing the wilderness although i could probably pass on hiking up mountains on hot, smoky afternoons! –Curt
Hot, smokey, doesn’t work for me either. That must have been rough. They talk differently than Canadian Geese. The swans are more consistently melodic. (Don’t tell the geese I said this!)
I’ll keep it a secret from the geese Cindy. Otherwise they might land on your roof and talk to you all night. –Curt
Which. of course I would love to no end, but then, unfortunately, so would the Great Horned Owls!
Ah… Goose dinner. 🙂
They’ll get your goose if you try that! 😉
Indeed! 🙂
My, the angle that those necks can take! 🙂
Amazing isn’t it. They are wonderful creatures.
A bit of yellow. A bit of black. And a whole lot of white. Really something.
Neil S.
Such a perfect description! Matches the swans beautifully.
I can’t get over their wonderful long NECKS! And “cygnet” is just the greatest word. Beautiful creatures. (And you speak German!)
Thank you! I am so glad you like them & I speak German very badly.
They’re lovely!
They are and their personalities are too!
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
Pictures of Iceland’s beautiful Whooper swans taken by Cindy Knoke.
Gratitude for you my very kind friend <3
I have always been enchanted by swans. 🙂
I understand. They are enchanting creatures.
Beautiful photographs – I love the reflections as much as the swans.
You have an observant eye as they were rather subtle.
Such beautiful birds but how do they stay so elegantly white, I wonder!
Birds and their colors are the most magical mystery.
So true! If only our feathers (skin and hair) would stay as beautiful. 😀
<3 <3
No ugly ducklings here Cindy. Intriguing that they stay the winter in thermally heated waters in the US too.
Yes, I was struck by the similarity too.
Beautiful captures of the elegant swans, Cindy!
Thanks much & cheers to you! Loved your 40’s bash.
https://youtu.be/9RrsaAPGrjY
So beautiful! Thank you.
You wellcome dear Cindy.
<3
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Hemera, moorning godess