The last of the family to leave the lake. This beautiful Australian Black Swan stayed a few extra days and allowed me to see her complete in her final feathers. Then she was off into the big world to search out her life partner and raise a family of her own.

It's always a bit sad, and a lot joyful, to watch as they grow from fluffy soft white passengers on their parents backs, to scruffy black,white and grey awkward adolescents, and finally into the elegant form so serene and beautiful.