Lots of Swans

Sleeping Swan

Weekends are currently my only free time, when I can go out from town. This time, I went to Ilmatsalu - Kärevere linnutee hiking trail. It's not that far from Tartu, but not also too close. Good thing was that the first bus went there at 6:20 am, perfect for getting sunrise pictures and at that time there wasn't a lot of people.

I got hyped when already in the beginning of the trail I saw the swans. They weren't the usual ones I have seen. They had yellow beak, which is different. Later near the watchtower, I got to know they are Whooper Swans, rare in Estonia and also under conservation. In Ilmatsalu, there were lots of Whooper Swans, I barely found any other birds, but still a few.

Most of the swans were together in pairs. It bit made me feel as a loner middle of all the early morning dates, but it was fun time for me. One pair did this interesting thing, where they ran on water and in the end took off together.

"Honey, wake up. We're being watched"
"Nah. I'm sleeping"

"One, two, three. OFF WE GOOOOO!"

The view from watchtower

Taken with Canon EOS 700D