Thursday 3 June 2010

Kites in Geneva

I almost left the camera behind today for a trip to down-town Geneva with family and friends - but was very glad I didn't: Black Kites (left) were everywhere around the shores of Lac Leman, with Red-breasted Mergansers, Red-crested Pochard and Goosanders (below) hanging around the lake shore, the latter even coming to bread. A family party of Goosander proved particularly photogenic with 3 Goosander-lings out-competing the nearby Mute Swan cygnets for cuteness. Surprising that the Black Kites can find enough to feed on in Switzerland's clean streets. Definitely a case of quality not quantity though as other bird life in Geneva seemed reasonably scarce. Screaming parties of swifts provided a fittingly urban soundtrack.