Haiku: New Life

 

pen on her nest with three cygnets

 

their stars sparkle
by night above the river
new life

© Xenia Tran

 

pen on her nest with three cygnets

 

pen on her nest with five cygnets

We are delighted to let you know that today, a total of seven cygnets have hatched. A very big thank you to all of you who have been keeping your fingers crossed in your kind comments on The Love between Birds.

With love from Xenia xxx

 

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

 

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Place in the World

 

Haibun: The Love between Birds

 

a swan (cob) patrolling the river

 

It has been four weeks now, since his pen laid her eggs. While she is on the nest he keeps her safe, patrolling the river. From one bridge to the next, he sees that all is well. He greets familiar faces above the buttercups and shepherd’s purse, the fresh blades of grass. He looks so much better this year, more confident. People stroll along the river bank, to see how he is doing. We all want him to do well. Last year’s eggs never hatched. We are hoping that this year, things will be better.

temple blossoms
seagulls flock to guard
a sleeping swan

© Xenia Tran

 

seagulls watching over a sleeping swan (cob) on an outgoing tide

You can see images of his pen (female swan) on the nest in an earlier post ‘Nesting Swan‘. She raised 62 cygnets over the last nine years with her previous cob (male swan), before he passed away.

Update: on 17th May 2018 seven cygnets hatched – you can see the first images in our post New Life.

With love from Xenia xxx

 

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

 

Carpe Diem Spring Retreat 2018: The Light of the World

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Place in the World

Daily Prompt: Core

dVerse Poets Haibun Monday: Compassion

 

 

Haiku: Nesting Swan

 

a pen (female swan) sprucing up her nest in the river

 

eight springs
on a nest in the river
loving swan

© Xenia Tran

 

a close-up of a pen (female swan) sprucing up her nest in the river

We wish you all a wonderful weekend!

With love from Xenia xxx

 

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

 

Carpe Diem Spring Retreat 2018: The Light in the World

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Place in the World

 

Tanka: Dappled Light

 

a male and female mallard duck resting under a bush

 

under a bush
ducks resting on spring grass
dappled light
ahead of his love and her nest
a swan guards the river

© Xenia Tran

 

 

a male swan guarding the river at low tide

With love from Xenia xxx

 

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

 

Carpe Diem Spring Retreat 2018: The Light of the World

Twiglet #74: Under a Bush

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Lines

Daily Prompt: Observe

 

Haiku: Every Feather

 

a duck 'photobombing' a swan in the centre of the image with a big smile

 

behind these eyes
curtains of light
in every feather

© Xenia Tran

 

a brown and white duck with dark green head smiling at the camera

With love from Xenia xxx

 

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

 

Carpe Diem Spring Retreat 2018: The Light of the World

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Prolific

 

Wordless Wednesday: Peaceful Morning

 

mute swan (cob) swimming in a natural pond

 

 

mute swan (cob) swimming along the opposite shore of a natural pond

With love from Xenia xxx

 

Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.

 

Paula’s (Lost in Translation) Thursday Special: Zoom in, Zoom out

Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Awakening

Wordless Wednesday