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A pair of Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus was seen on Lough Neagh on Saturday 4th July 2015, swimming somewhat offshore closely assoviated with three much smaller birds.
As I watched, the larger bird of the pair, - assumed male, - flew inshore, and attacked a Mute Swan Cygnus olor which I assmed to be the male of a pair , of which the (assumed) female was tending young not far away, but out of site behind a point in the shoreline. For several minutes the male Whooper attacked the male mute quite close by with pecking, or grabbing with his beak, whils both birds furiously flapped their wings, then the Whooper lost interest and flew off out of sight.
I then looked through he telescope at the (assumed) female Whooper, and was surprised to see that her three chrages were all rather small, short-necked Canada Geese Branta Canadensis, which appeared to be in juvenile plumage
Behaviour in attacking a larger Mute Swan surprised me, as did the behaviour in "parenting" the three Canada Geese.
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