It might seem strange that someone native to Sweden would consider a swan so special, but...... I've not seen a Mute Swan since 1981 for what I can recall - also, I've not ever had a chance to photograph them. So this meant a lot to me.

I don't normally stop at a duck pond in a park, but when I saw this swan I had to go back.

Not only are we not supposed to have any Mute Swans in this area - just a few rare Trumpeter Swans & wintering Tundra Swans - but not within Los Angeles according to both Sibley's Guide to Birds & Stokes Field Guide to Birds..... Not only in print have I found this fact - but also Online at WhatBird.com - - They're obviously all wrong.

Seeing this Swan was both a great joy & a great sadness to me. Swans mate for life. A lone swan means it has lost its mate & will now forever live alone. Such devotion is something to behold. But also so sad. I hope to run into more swans with time. Hopefully also pairs.

This turned out to be the average pond visiting swan which was looking for handout of bread along the edge. I did find it surprising to see a man almost on his knees with his toddler on his shoulders hand feeding offering out of his hand bread to this swan. Not something I would do. Swans can be rather evil. This one took the bread & left the hand.