Swans on the Taff
The lovely spring weather continues here in Cardiff. I awoke this morningto bright early sunshine and a vibrant dawn chorus supplied by more different kinds of birds than I could count. This evening as I walked home along the Taff past the cricket ground I noticed some swans – two pairs, to be precise – cruising up and down as if they owned the place. I took a couple of pics with my phone and then they spotted me and approached, no doubt thinking I had food. Close up, swans are easily big enough to be scary so I beat a hasty retreat.
I have always thought it curious that the collective noun for swans is a lamentation (which seems most inappropriate for such beautiful creatures), although four probably isn’t enough to qualify as a lamentation anyway.
Tomorrow night is our annual Physics Ball, and if the weather carries on like this I’ll be forced to don the white DJ and pretend to be a toff.
In the Dark 
March 24, 2011 at 6:39 pm
Gwelais alarch ar y llyn,
Yn ei gwch o sidan gwyn.
I saw a swan on the lake,
In his boat of white silk.
March 24, 2011 at 9:32 pm
They can break a man’s arm, you know!*
* I have no evidence that this is actually true
March 24, 2011 at 9:38 pm
What worries me more is that their beaks are at the same height as my goolies.