Mute Swan Attack: A Fierce Fight on the Lake

We sat in the Kingfisher hide waiting for something to happen out on the lake, but weren't expecting anything quite so dramatic!

Dozens of mute swans drifted across the water, white feathers fanned out like tutus, reflecting perfectly in the still surface.

My illusion of them being avian ballerinas, dancing on the water, was about to be destroyed. By the time that July morning was over I realised they were thugs in disguise!

The First Strike

A lone male swan drifted a little too close to another pair. There was no obvious warning – no drawn-out hissing or posturing that we could see – just a sudden explosion of movement as the resident pair wheeled towards him.

They hit him hard: hissing, wings thumping, beaks jabbing, water flying in sheets. What from a distance might have looked like a flurry of white feathers was, close up, a full-blown fight.

I raised my camera almost automatically.

My husband’s hand clamped onto my shoulder as he whispered, “Let’s carry on. I don’t want to see this.”

I understood exactly what he meant. I wanted the shot; I also wanted to walk away.

Instead, I watched through the viewfinder and pressed the shutter.

Entwined Necks and Beating Wings

The two males locked together, necks twisted like ropes, wings flailing as they forced each other under the water and surged back up again.

For a moment we even wondered if they were accidentally tangled and unable to separate – a real possibility, as there are documented cases of male mute swans getting entangled in territorial fights and needing human help to survive.

But as we watched them bite at each other’s wings and necks, it became clear this was deliberate and determined aggression, not an accident.

All the while, the female stayed close, placing herself between the chaos and her cygnets and steering them away from the danger. A mother doing what she did best.

A Photographer’s Dilemma

I lost track of time. My watch told me it had been 20 minutes since the fight started.

The sound of hissing, splashing, the slap of powerful wingbeats continued. 

Part of me wanted to stop watching in case I saw a killing blow.

Another part knew that, as a wildlife photographer, my role was to observe and document, not interfere – and that getting physically closer would have been unsafe for both me and the birds.

Mute swans are large, heavy birds, and they can cause serious injury if they feel threatened or are defending their territory or young.

So I stayed in the Hide, lens trained on the fight, trying to balance empathy with objectivity.

When a Fight Turns into an Attempted Drowning

Eventually one bird broke free and powered away across the lake, wings beating against the water.

For a moment we felt relieved: it looked as though the intruder had been chased off and the lesson was over.

But the victor wasn’t done.

He let the other swan gain some distance, then surged after him, rearing up out of the water and landing squarely on his back.

Using his body weight, he pushed the other bird lower and lower until only the head and part of the neck were visible above the surface.

This tactic – forcing a rival underwater - had one obvious intention. Drowning the intruder.

From the hide, it was hard not to interpret what we were seeing as a serious, possibly lethal attack.

At one point the struggling swan turned its head in our direction, and it was difficult not to project a sense of panic and desperation onto that gaze. 

The Common Terns Join The Chaos

As the fight continued, the birds drifted across the lake towards the nesting rafts used by Common Terns.

Paxton Pits is well known for its tern rafts, which give these delicate seabirds safe, floating nest sites away from predators, such as otters.

The terns were unimpressed by the invading swans. They launched into the air, calling sharply as they began to dive-bomb the battling birds, tiny, agile shapes stooping at the much larger swans.

The scene became noisy, chaotic and strangely layered: a vicious swan fight over territory and family, wrapped in the frantic defence of another species guarding its own nests.

Nature in the Raw – in the Middle of England

I think many of us expect to see dramatic, life-and-death struggles on wildlife documentaries set on the African plains, not on a quiet lake in Cambridgeshire.

Watching this mute swan attack was one of the first times I’d seen “nature in the raw” so close to home.

The emotional tension was intense:

• I didn’t want to watch an animal die.
• I desperately wanted to know whether the intruder would somehow escape.

Of course, the swans were completely unaware of my internal conflict. For them it was a straightforward matter of territory, mates and survival.

Eventually after more than 30 minutes, we had to move on, not knowing how the story ended.

We simply hoped that, once we were gone, the defeated bird managed to break free and leave the victor’s territory behind.

What the Fight Taught Me About Swans

That morning changed the way I look at swans.

I still see their elegance – the curve of the neck, the mirrored reflections, the soft white wings – but now I also see the power behind that beauty, and the capacity for violence when their family or territory is threatened.

Those same wings that catch the light so delicately are strong enough to batter a rival; that long neck can be used not just for feeding but for biting and forcing another bird underwater.

It also reminded me that female birds often play quieter but equally vital roles: shielding cygnets, steering them away from danger, holding a line that looks calm but is absolutely essential.

And finally, it underscored a simple truth: swans are not decorations on the water. They are wild animals, with instincts and behaviours shaped by survival, not by our stories about grace and romance.

So, yes, I still see their elegance. But under those beautiful white feathers is a story far more ruthless than any fairy tale.

Related Wildlife Guides

Mute Swans - Learn many surprising mute swan facts about their lives and discover how to take great photos with plenty of detail in those beautiful white feathers.

The Great Crested Grebe - Follow the great crested grebe through a full breeding season—courtship displays, floating nests, fuzzy chicks, and stunning wildlife photography.

Related Photography Tips

Understanding Shutter Priority Mode - Learn about shutter priority mode and the exposure triangle for creative control of your wildlife photography, which is essential for freezing fast action

Why Won't My Camera Focus? - If you're tired of blurry shots, explore these practical troubleshooting tips to resolve common focus issues when photographing chaotic scenes.

How to Edit a Wildlife Photo - An introduction to learning how to edit a wildlife photo and techniques that will help your photos look their best while still appearing natural and authentic

Copyright © 2018- naturewalkswithcarol.com   All rights reserved

Home.      | About Me       | Contact Me       | Blog       | Privacy Policy