New Girl on the Block

Coming home from my yearly nuclear stress-test we decided to drive by Sunset Bay
at White Rock Lake to check on the usual residents.

I saw a Red-Bellied Woodpecker hanging out...

a very curious and friendly squirrel...

a Red-Winged Blackbird...

and a Greater White-Fronted goose leisurely strolling down the dock.

I decided to follow her as she headed towards her friends...

seeming to stop and pose periodically...making sure I got her "good side!"

I tried to be as quiet as possible since a lot of the ducks and geese were resting,

but there's always one Nervous Nelly in the group!

 All eyes opened

as some "How dare you!" stares met me straight on...

or from the side, as this Brown & White Chinese Goose stood at attention,

and this White Chinese Goose cautiously raised her head.

It was then I noticed the new girl on the block...

a beautiful female mute Swan!

I had never seen a swan here (and neither have any of my photo buddies.)

She wasn't shy at all...allowing me to photograph her

preening...

discarding unwanted feathers...

scratching...

grooming feet...

searching for nourishment...

and finding it!

After a while, she stopped preening and eating and looked me straight in the eyes.

She then slowly headed towards the water...

looking back at me as if inviting me to follow...so I did.

She gracefully slid into the lake

and began cooling herself

while making sure I was still observing.

She kept swimming over to the dock where I was

and when it was time to leave I glanced back...

sad at the sight of her looking helpless and alone;

wondering what she was thinking...

where she came from...

and how long she will stay.