Our largest native waterfowl in North America, a Trumpeter Swan, navigates a graceful lake landing. With wingspans of up to nearly 8 feet, such beautiful birds to watch in flight.

Water drops off the beak of a mute swan between dips in the river to grab some grub. Although not native to North America, mute swans do have their own charm and grace.

Trumpeter Swan flyby . . .

Trumpeter Swans glide with grace across the sky during the golden hour. These are the largest native waterfowl here in North America, can stretch up to 6 feet in length and weigh more than 25 pounds. Such a delight to observe and experience. Learn more about these swans at the website of The Trumpeter Swan Society.

A couple of mute swans pass each other during a leisurely afternoon paddle on a lake. These swans were migrating and had decided to rest and feed for a spell before heading south. Although not native to North America, they are still easy on the eye.

How apropos that we should be visited by a black swan in 2020. Black swans are native to Australia, and it's anyone's guess as to how this one wound up in a forest preserve lake here in northern Illinois, but there it was with a family of mute swans . . .