Today near the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Cygnet

Cygnet DSC_1650, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

This is a shot of the cygnet that I watched from the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area most of the summer. About a month ago it left with it's family. Today, I found out that they moved about a half mile south to Sunfish Lake. I couldn't see them from any public areas so I was perplexed as to what happened to them.

Today, I was allowed to wander within the Arden Hills Training Site. My host said she saw the swan family in Sunfish lake so I started my journey there. This good news is this cygnet looks big and healthy. It was feeding while I watched and eventually ended up near shore and stretched it's wings for me.

The bad news is I saw a swan shaped pile of feathers in the cattails. I sure looks like a dead swan although I couldn't get a very good view of it. My host is going to canoe out there tomorrow to investigate. We suspect it might be the swan with the mandible problem.

I think is my favorite shot of the day. It isn't the sharpest pan of this duck but its sharp enough and the cygnet is in the frame.