Swanning and visiting nesting swans
I was pleased to see this swan by the bank outside my window this morning. That's one thing that I do miss about cruising, as opposed to being moored on the marina, as swans are more prevalent on the cut.
Seeing the swan brought an element of light to my morning, in addition to the warming temperatures that we've had over the last few days.
Full of grace and charm, the swan appeared, and it was gone before I could even say hello. Its calm glide across the waters was like a demonstration of how slow and easy my day should be.
Sometimes I go swanning across the marina, but today my purpose was to visit one of the tenants who lives in one of the permanent lodges on the marina, who had invited me to come and see a swan that has been nesting outside her lodge.
At this time of the year, UK Spring, you can see swans nesting along the canals, and there are usually two, a male and a female, who take turns incubating the area while one hunts for food.
I felt lucky to be able to see this nesting swan within walking distance of my boat, and it was fascinating to see the male swan gliding up and down the canals within sight of where the female was nesting.
They are extremely protective, so I was cautious not to go too close.
The view from my friend's lodge is amazing because the living room has large glass doors, so you can see boaters sailing by.
Here, the male swan patrols the canal in the vicinity of where his female is nesting. This goes on for a few months until about the start of summer, when you'll see some beautiful swan families with their cygnets.
It was amusing to see the swan going in tandem with this guy in his canoe. You would have sworn the swan was a pet of the fella because the swan went at the same pace and stopped every time he did. I guess they can be playful and social at times.
As with these other canoers.
Do you think the male swan follows 'intruders' to keep an eye on and ensure that no one goes close to his female?
It's hilarious to watch, although I observed that a dog that lives in the lodge next door was bemused by the swan. There might be a rivalry of some sort because the dog went ballistic when he saw the swan, and my neighbour said that he barks and chases swans up and down the canal.
Slow living
Taking time to smell the roses is never overrated, and I've been mindfully starting my mornings early and at a slow pace. It's so much better that I'm waking up close to nature on Cygnet, my narrowboat.
One small change that has helped is that hubby drove the boat across the marina and switched the direction of the boat. So, I'm now sleeping with my head pointing east, which makes me wake up feeling fresh, and my saloon and office area face west, allowing me to watch the sunset in the evenings. This has been a small tweak with a massive effect.
I love slow and easy Sundays. What about you, peeps?
This post was all written and photographed to conceptualise my story of slow living, today's theme of the Minimalist community.
Thanks for stopping by, as always.
What rocks my boat
My blog frequently features my minimalist lifestyle and adventures while living on my narrowboat.”
Irie love,
Milly
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Life at different pace and being on the fast mode for too long sometimes makes us forget what it means to go slow and enjoy every ticking of the clock. It's awesome how nature reminds us of things that are very important in life.
The view of the canal is great not to speak of the swan gracing every shot. I am sure you are having a great rest now just like I am doing, it's raining here after a long time and everything about the rain is making me happy.
Happy Sunday to you...
Indeed!
I'm pleased that you got some rain. I know how it can be during droughts, especially in warm climates like yours.
Enjoy the rain while it lasts, and think of it as liquid sunshine, as we do in Jamaica:)
Happy Sunday too!
You have a nice view from your friend's lodge. Indeed, it is fascinating looking at the swans. I guess you enjoyed your stay in this place. 🫶
Indeed! It's a special experience to see the swans nesting, great living on the narrowboat at the marina, and I'm happy that my neighbour invited me over.
Thanks for stopping by:)
You're welcome. See you around. 😊
🤗
Swans are such graceful and elegant creatures.
Funny how such small differences as changing the direction one sleeps and lives/works can have such a big impact. That's a great change! 👍
Yeah, just a different vibe on the boat since the minor change.
Yeah, mainly. However, a few days ago an aggressive swan tried to attack my foot. I had to jump on top of the boat. Maybe he was hungry, I'm not sure, but one of the staff told me that that particular swan is known to be aggressive 😂
Canadian geese are like that as well they chase and hiss at you - mainly only if they have goslings though
Hehe! They can be feisty little creatures, indeed.
We'll have to look out for little cygnets along the canals when we start cruising soon:)
I love how you added slow living cause that's the vibe I've gotten from all of these. A slow and relaxing living without all the bustle and chaos living in the city brings.🌺
Rate the degree of peacefulness your heart has received being here from 1 to 10.
Thank you 😊
Wholeheartedly, I would say my level of peacefulness is a 10 when I'm on the narrowboat.
I get moments of aggravation when my phone buzzes with junk mail from relatives who send images of nature with superficial sayings. I am sometimes tempted to tell them to go and enjoy nature and life instead of forwarding such messages to me.😏😅
A perfect morning then - an encounter of a lady from the cygnet and a swan :)
That is very nice they take turns incubating, some other birds do it as well but not all.
Yeah, and the swans take their job of protecting and guarding the perimeters around seriously. They are such fascinating creatures.
Perfect morning, indeed!
Happy Sunday 🕊
When protecting the nest or the little ones they can go a bit crazy too 😅
Hehe! Yeah, they do.
It's fascinating to watch 😁
This is beautiful, and I love your poses. The swans look so cute, and I agree the male Swan is being playful. Hehe.
Wow, I never knew about this before. Thanks for adding it to your post.
You're very welcome.
I learn something new about these creatures daily, and wildlife is fascinating.
Thanks for stopping by:)
Yes, it sure is fascinating. Have a good day 😊
🤗
How great that you are having warm days there, and that you had the opportunity to see these beautiful swans from your window.
What a unique opportunity to see this bird in its own nest.
Thank you very much dear friend @millycf1976 for sharing this beautiful experience
Heya @jlufer
It's awesome, indeed to see the bird in its own nest. Makes you want to pet it, but that would be a bad idea.😆
Happy Sunday:)
Gorgeous. This entire post feels very peaceful <3
Thanks 😊
Happy Sunday:)))
I have never seen such a beautiful bird, much less in its own nest @millycf1976 beautiful photographs make me love this swan
I'm pleased you popped by to see something new:)
Have a lovely Sunday!
Some beautiful pictures of swans. Oh I can't say I have seen one so close to a boat unless their provoked or defending. That was so cool you caught that. I'm hoping to catch some pelicans that sometimes migrate through here. Time will tell :)
Oh to die for as it's usually the last day of the week before I start a new work week. Ideally a day to enjoy coffee longer, make a nice breakfast and just chill and be in no hurry to do things 😊
Oh, the swans come right up to the boat, and they will come and knock for food too, especially if we're moored up in the city.
Sometimes they come so close that I worry that they will come inside the boat. Once I was on the bank of a canal admiring a swan, and it suddenly jumped up right next to me. It was massive with feet so big. Looking like a dinosaur. He only came up on the footpath to eat grass. 😁
Write more about it in the community. I'd like to read it and see some lovely photos.😉
Btw, I've been slowly compiling some ice cream creations, but I need an ice cream scoop so that the display will be neater... I also have to eat the ice cream fast because my freezer is not powerful:)
I've seen them behaving like that on shore but not while in the water. It was cool to see through your pictures 😉
I'm way over due I promise I will share at some point. Already have a title and content in mind 😊 Also have a promise article from over a year ago that fits in the community for a second post. I talk coffee so much especially with you sometimes but I've yet to post anything directly related to it in longer form, haha. In post coming to you soon 😁
Been through somethings and I haven't been with my love (ice cream) for awhile. I'm border line having withdrawals 😂
😊
Oh, pop by anytime you have your posts finalised for the Minimalist or coffee.
I feel your pain not being able to eat ice cream and yeah, I can imagine the withdrawals. Things might get better. I guess we all go through 'down times'... I have been recently, so I have been taking things slowly.
Writing helps me, yet I need to be in a good frame of mind to write.
Slowly, slowly, I guess.🤗
I'm much in the same boat taking things slowly too. I have been in real life and its found it's way to Hive by showing my inactivity the past a few months. This morning was great for me as I really felt relaxed and unpressured. Now time to enjoy a little nature 😊 We will both re-turn into the rock stars we can both be :) Take care and enjoy what's left of your evening ✨
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Thanks for your lovely message,😊 and have a great day further 🤗
Awww... What beautiful creatures the swans are!... Nice post and nice photos... I can imagine the hustle and bustle when the dog chases swans!... hahaha :)) ... Awww... So now your nice "Cygnet" have more light in the mornings!... You look very happy in that charming narrow boat, beautiful photos!... A pleasure to read your pleasant post on my "slow Sunday today"... I went jogging with my partner at 6 AM, then when I came back I walked my dogs in the town square and went home to chat a little with my wife and drink coffee together... Now I'm on my laptop at my mother's house watching #Hive and barely It's noon... Of course it's a deliciously slow, enjoyable Sunday!... hehehe :)) In a couple of hours the soccer classic Real Madrid Vs Barcelona will begin and I hope to watch it by video conference with my eldest son (he lives in Colombia currently)... And after that it will leave me time for some Yoga in the afternoon!... Slow and calm Sundays are really nice in my opinion!... ;)
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Thank you so much for your support:)
@millycf1976! Your Content Is Awesome so I just sent 1 $BBH (Bitcoin Backed Hive) to your account on behalf of @jlinaresp. (1/5)
Oh, you don't say!
Thank you 😊
Yeah, the dog goes mental, and I'm not comfortable around big dogs like that, especially when they are in a bad mood. I made sure not to make eye contact. 😆
Oh, kudos to you on that, and yoga! Awesome 👏
A nice slow Sunday.
What a perfect way to spend quality family time, even virtually.
I'm pleased to hear stories like this.
Thanks for the compliments, and enjoy that game... I hope your team wins 🤗
HALA MADRID!!!! hehehe :))
Sending hugs and blessings dear friend!!!!
🙏😊
😁Cheers to the Real Madrid win 🍾🥂⚽️
Hahaha!!!... THANKS A LOT dear @millycf1976 friend!!! 😁... Although there was a lot of refereeing controversy in the match, but that's always the case in these classics!!!... I send a big hug and my wishes for a great week!!!!
!PIZZA
Always! 💯
Thank you. 😊 Have a great week too:)))
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Thank you so much:)
$PIZZA slices delivered:
@jlinaresp(8/10) tipped @millycf1976 (x2)
I need this pizza. I'm hungry 😋
Wonderful creatures and I am wondering how happy your friends must be living at this incredible lodge place. But most of all I am happy to see you posting again 💖
Thanks for your lovely comment 😍
It felt good to gather my thoughts and write again.
My friend is super happy. She's an active 83-year-old who downsized when her husband passed away. I think she made the best decision to move into that lodge 🤗❤️
83 years old? oh, its so lovely to hear about people who found their heart place to be there ♥️ people we for sure can learn a lot from
💯%
She gets lonely sometimes, but the swans, dog, and the surrounding nature keep her motivated ❤️
❤️ and you going to visit her too
I feel lucky to be able to spend time with her and listen to the stories that she recalls so vividly 😊😍
❤️❤️❤️
A beautiful image you have put in our minds.
It's lovely to look out that glass window and receive that revelation in the form of such a majestic animal.
The simple life is so good! 😉
Thank you, @millycf1976.
Thanks for your lovely comment @nanixxx. I'm happy that you appreciated all of this as much as I did.
The swan is truly majestic.😍
Enjoy the rest of the Sunday and have a great week ahead:)))
Thank you, I wish the same for you. Although we have different time.
Then the Cygnet is your wide home... I don't see it narrow at all, because it's all in our mind.
Haha! That's true in so many ways.
It's called a narrowboat, but I never feel like it's too narrow when I'm on it. All the essentials (which is what I try to keep) are all within arm's reach.😁😍
😇👌
😊🤗
What beautiful, graceful and elegant birds these are. Great photos👍
Thank you. Yes, swans are strikingly beautiful:)
Hello my dear @millycf1976 🤗🤗
How blessed you were to see these beautiful birds up close 😍 I would have enjoyed that experience as much as you did 🥳🥳.
Watching the process of cooperation between the male and female swan for their eggs must have been the ultimate. How beautiful ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ ❤️ Imagine when the time of the chicks comes 🥰 please take many photos at that time and share them that even in the distance I enjoy them very much.
Impeccable your publication. I was happy to read it.
A big hug and may that sensitivity that characterizes you continue to abound.
A big hug 💞
Thanks for your lovely comment.😊
I might not be at the marina long enough to see the chicks. However, along the canal cruising, I'm sure that I'll see many families of swans. It's always great to see the cygnets and boats need to keep an eye out for them:)))
No doubt it will be fabulous to see swan families 😍 Just thinking about it makes me very excited.
Enjoy it to the fullest 🥳🥳
Yes, it's exciting to see the family sailing by. The baby cygnets are so cute and the parents are protective of them 😍
The place is very lucky to have that kind of animals. Swan animals can bring beauty of the surroundings and we can enjoyed watching those animals swimming at the Pond, and it is like a fairy tale. I really appreciate your Post Ma'am.
Hello there!
I'm pleased that you enjoyed my post. It is like a fairytale, indeed to see the swans in motion:)))
Yes Ma'am In fact I've never seen a swan in actual. I wish I could see one, well as I read and watched those photos you shared here, I felt I am in the place. 😊
I hope that you'll see one someday. The only thing is that it's best not to go too close to swans because they're very strong and they could hurt you if they felt intimidated in any way.
For example, while feeding them, it's best not to feed them directly from your hands.😁
Really, that what I also think about Ma'am if it is okay to feed the swan directly in hand. Thank you for sharing this suggestions. 😊
You're very welcome:)
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What a beautiful lovely Swan 🦢. Hope you enjoyed your stay around them. This kind of opportunities comes in awhile.
Thanks for sharing all the beautiful nature background environs. Mother Earth 🌍 has been so good to us. Lots of love 💕.
I'm pleased you enjoyed this.
Have a nice day:)
A lovely one indeed 💕.
Enjoy your day too.