We had a few minutes to spare on the return home past the Western Treatment Plant and decided to look in on the “T Section” area. Not many birds in there at present, except for colonies of nesting swans.
We found this pair in the business of Busy-ness
Birds as Poetry —— Just because I WANDER - --doesn't mean I'm LOST 
Impressive photo report with the most important romantic ritual of the Black Swans documented in detail. It’s happening all over Melbourne now. I’ve observed three new nests in Braeside already.
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Yep it’s full speed ahead. At same spot we saw 15 nests in quite close proximity they were lined up like ships.
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A wonderful documentation of the romance, David! Fascinating to see! Worth the short detour to T Section!
I must pop down the creek and see if the pair have returned!
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One of the most interesting things is how fluffed that male can make the neck feathers, about twice the normal size.
She looks to get the worst of it, but like all bird mating its over in the blink of an eye.
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Wonderful series and captures David, you were at the right place at the right time to capture this special moment of this couple. Interesting it is done under water. I guess the diving ducks that never come to land would do similar. Lovely to see the courting ritual of necking over, it reminded me of watching the courtship of the Humpback whales near Fraser Island, as they fall over each other.
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Hi Ashley, yes, its a bit more complicated than the lightning speed of say the Black-shouldered Kites. 🙂
What is I guess appealing is that both seemed to know the moves and when to make it happen. The one time I wish I was still using a long zoom lens and I could have pulled back a bit to keep the action in frame.
The bunds between ponds leave little room for moving about.
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A beautiful series of images David. I have seen Swamphens mating where the female seemed to be submerged for a while, but they don’t seem to be any the worse for wear after the event. I did like the bubble-blowing part of the event!
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