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.