Last post on Holla Bend swans

Just thought I'd do one final follow up on the swans at Holla Bend to confirm they are back on the reserve. I've now seen all 8 remaining swans (from the original 13 released last year) on the reserve on two separate days. They're staying on a small area of standing water just opposite Shop Road. The above shot was taken on the 11th of this month while I was there shooting the snow geese. The group flew in about 7:30 in the morning. Good to see them back on the reserve since that will probably give them the best odds at survival.

Taken with a Nikon D300, Nikon 200-400 VR lens w/1.4 converter hand held. Shot at f8.0, 1/1000 sec @ ISO 800.

Have a great day!
Dave Hatfield

A really handsome bird. Nice color. Was it morning or evening light we are seeing reflected on the underside of the swan. It is not often we get a neckband ID on birds flying by.

Wonderful lighting on the swan, and very nice capture.

Thanks, Dan & John. This was just one of those fortuitous moments. I was shooting snow geese at the bend when the swans just flew into my field of view. Dan, as to the light it was early morning and, if you're shooting swans at the bend, you have no choice but to get one with a neck band. They're all part of the program with Iowa to initiate a new group of swans here in Arkansas that will, hopefully, migrate back and forth between the two states, so the bands have been placed on all the original group of swans for accurate record keeping.

Merry Christmas to all!

Dave Hatfield

Nice one David, I like the lightnig the swan.

A beautiful shot Dave. They are so elegant. Thanks for the update on the swans.