Swamphen Cygnets and an angry mummy

Good morning @featheredfriends I hope you're all having a wonderful day. I went out exploring our new suburb a little more and stumbled across a family of swamphens and baby cygnets. They were so small I'd anticipate them being only a few days old.

Mummy or daddy swamphen wasn't too keen on us getting to close and approached us cautiously. But also with a firm stance, no doubt this Aussie was ready to remove our eyes from our skulls so we didn't get too close 🤣

Instead we opted for the zoom option on the camera to capture the little cygnets. Quite interesting is that when Swamphen cygnets hatch they are black in plumage with a silver/grey beak.

Over time as they grow they will start to develop blue feathers with a red beak and legs.

We stumbled across this flock as they scavanged for insects and dug up grasses to eat. They also appeared to be teaching their cygnets how to forage food. Swamphens are quite interesting to watch as they will be present in water and on land however, most the time they are balancing atop of water reeds. These water reeds were recently flattened due to heavy rains which caused this section to flood.

The flooding causes all the insects that reside under the soil to dig their way out and come to the surface chasing air and somewhere safer.

Amongst the fleeing insects above are the swamphens waiting for their meal to escape the flood waters or float to the top. As the insects emerge from the ground the swamphens feast.

I have to admit this new area with its environmental focus and development on native wet lands has provided an oasis. As we ride along the creek line we can hear frogs and other native animals in the shrubs.

We will need to go looking for frogs soon, it has been some time since I have seen a frog so close to suburbia. No doubt in a number of years platypus will return.

Here is a YouTube video I found of a Swamphens call