Leslie

I went to the local pond in search of mallard ducks or any duck species.   Instead I captured this photo of a mute swan (cygnus olor) landing in the water with a wake behind him.   Mute swans have heavy bodies and short legs.  They are non-native in the US and can displace native species.  They feed in underwater vegetation and have voracious appetites, eating up to 8 lbs of vegetation a day.   They mate for life and can be very aggressive, displaying raised wings to ward off predators.