birdlife
Young

Young duck

Two faces

Cygnets

Carduelis carduelis
Two carduelis carduelis
European goldfinch and young
Birds in a tree
Carduelis carduelis
I think I might have spotted a flock of Carduelis carduelis, or the European Goldfinch today.
Swan
Closer to the Common Starling
Great crested grebe in the moats
Swans and cygnets
Now I know what baby swans are called. I had to check. Cygnets. The word is diminutive of Old French ‘cigne’ which means ‘swan’. It comes from Latin ‘cycnus’ and from Greek ‘kyknos’. Who knew that looking at birds could end up in an etymology lesson? And furthermore, how could anyone call a cygnet an ugly duckling? They’re are the cutest, softest looking things I have ever seen.