What Is That??
By fishtiger58
@fishtiger58 (29819)
Momence, Illinois
April 20, 2016 7:13am CST
A few years ago while out fishing on a lake in Central Illinois, we had the pleasure of having a big beautiful swan visit us. If you have ever seen a swan close up you know how big they are. Just a beautiful creature.
I loved how curious he was in a nonchalant sort of way and after some time of watching us watching him he decided he just had to find out what that red thing was floating on his lake. It was my bobber. He just causally swam up to it gave it a look and decided it wasn't worth his time and swam off to find a log he could stand on to clean his feathers. It was very cool and I was snapping shot after shot. I got many good ones of him before he again swam off to another part of the lake.
32 people like this
33 responses
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
21 Apr 16
is it possible that one color is female and other is male?
3 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
20 Apr 16
No I have never seen a black one. I don't think we have them around here. Wow her photo is amazing.
6 people like this
@rebelann (117234)
• El Paso, Texas
21 Apr 16
Ahhhh, ok @fishtiger58 I just thought you would know because you have them up there.
I've only seen geese whenever we've gone to Ruidoso NM so mom could fish, but that was over a decade ago.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Apr 16
Thanks, yea it's that whole he she thing we were talking about. I"m sure I don't know the gender of that swan lol.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Apr 16
@rebelann From what I have seen of geese and we have a lot here the male and female look exactly alike. Could be the same for swans I'm not sure. I have some pics of a family of swans but they were really far away and from what I could tell the female and male swan look just alike as well.
1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
21 Apr 16
Wow, good shot! 
I haven't seen a swan up close, all I get to see are Canadian Geese.
I haven't seen a swan up close, all I get to see are Canadian Geese.1 person likes this
@Carmelanirel2 (8085)
• United States
23 Apr 16
@fishtiger58 Really? Because I only seen them during migration. Of course some stay over the summer if it isn't too hot.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Apr 16
We too have an abundance of Canadian Geese, they never leave anymore and are becoming a problem around here. So glad I was able to show you this swan.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
23 Apr 16
@Carmelanirel2 The ones around here haven't migrated in many many years. I live near a river so maybe that's why. I know in southern Illinois they had tons of goose hunting clubs they called it the flyway, which is the route the Canadian Geese would take. Many towns depended on these clubs for tourist dollars, all those clubs have now shut down as the Geese don't fly over any more. These towns are now losing all kinds of business and are hurting.
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
20 Apr 16
yes ma'am, they're quite large 'n when they've no wee ones 'round, purty peaceful. they're also most inquisitive :) great shot!
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
21 Apr 16
@fishtiger58 very true, i've seen ducks'f various species try to run off with 'em.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Apr 16
@crazyhorseladycx I have also had ducks swim up to my bobber to see what it was. Never have they tried to take it or got caught up in the lines thankfully.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Apr 16
I was surprised he wanted to see what my bobber was. I was ready to pull it out of there but he looked then swam away unharmed.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
21 Apr 16
that is a very beautiful shot of the swan, my friend. its whiteness against the color of the water, and that small pink thing that he seems looking at it, is a beautiful snap shot. perfect.
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
21 Apr 16
@fishtiger58 oh, so that is it. but the swan looking at that bobber is so beautifully taken.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Apr 16
@ridingbet thanks yea he was curious about it.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Apr 16
I was fishing in my boat and that red thing is my bobber. Pretty cool I think.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
9 May 16
Oh yea I have heard they are mean as well. And that's a big bird, I wouldn't want to be attacked by them.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
10 May 16
@OKennedy Heck no, those swans have huge thighs and strong beaks.
1 person likes this
@OKennedy (1130)
• United States
9 May 16
@fishtiger58 I have seen videos on youtube where people get attacked by birds and its funny to watch but not something you want to be on the receiving end of.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
31 Jan 17
Thanks I like this one the best of all I took that day, him looking at my bobber.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Apr 16
What a good way to look at that. I love that. Thanks glad you like my shot.
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
22 Apr 16
they sure are, I was lucky this one came so close to our boat.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
10 May 16
Very much so, I could sit and watch them all day too. Beautiful creatures.
1 person likes this
@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
20 Apr 16
This is a wonderful photo, @fishtiger58 How excited I would be to have a swan come swimming nearby! I would have been taking pictures like crazy too!
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
20 Apr 16
It was my first close up of one, I was amazed how large they are. He did go stand on a log to clean his feathers and his legs are huge.
1 person likes this
@sgbrown (1638)
• United States
20 Apr 16
@fishtiger58 The first time I saw one, I was surprised at how large they are too. We don't have them around here. The first time I saw one was at a zoo. Your picture is really very good! :)
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
20 Apr 16
@sgbrown I love seeing them in nature. We now see them occasionally. Thanks glad you like my shot.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45941)
• United States
20 Apr 16
Perfect picture. Love the reflection off the water.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Apr 16
Thanks so much glad you like it. I like the reflection as well.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
21 Apr 16
aaww. good thing he didn't try and catch it. lol
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Apr 16
I would have pulled it out of there if he would have gone for it.
@JamesHxstatic (29410)
• Eugene, Oregon
21 Apr 16
Great shot and nice reflection too.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Apr 16
they are pretty amazing, I was lucky to have one so close. I think he was about 20 or 30 feet from our boat.
1 person likes this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Apr 16
I hear they can be mean, and he didn't come that close but I would say he was about 20 feet away. I was siting in my boat.
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
21 Apr 16
Thanks I was pretty excited to see it so close. Usually they stay far away from us when we are out fishing in our boat.
