Andy Rouse / Mute swan (Cygnus olor) feeding at dawn, Cardiff, Wales, UK, March.

Steve Downer / Close up of Mute swan cygnets (Cygnus olor) riding on their mother's back, Birmingham, England, UK, May.

Andy Rouse / Mute swan (Cygnus olor) stretching in morning light, UK, February.

Nick Upton / Mute swan (Cygnus olor) female and a young cygnet foraging in sunset light, Kennet and Avon canal, Caen Hill, Wiltshire, UK, June.

Andy Rouse / Mute swan (Cygnus olor) with wings raised defensively at sunrise, Wales, UK, April.

Andy Rouse / Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) courtship behaviour, Wales, UK, April.

Martin Gabriel / Mute swans (Cygnus olor) on water, Bavaria, Germany, February.

Matthew Maran / Mute swans (Cygnus olor) Highgate Ponds, Hampstead Heath, London, UK, February.

Jussi Murtosaari / Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) foraging, southwest Finland, February.

David Woodfall / Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) swimming in Worcester city centre, during February 2014 floods, Worcester, England, UK, 10th February 2014.

David Woodfall / Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) pair in flooded agricultural land adjacent to River Severn, 10th February 2014.

Konrad Wothe / Aggressive Mute swan (Cygnus olor) Upper Bavaria, Germany, Europe