On March 25, 2020, NZ went into a nationwide lockdown (stay at home order) in an effort to contain the spread of Coronavirus. Birding and photography came to a halt, well almost. There is still our backyard, and close neighbourhood, where we are able to walk, while still practicing social distancing (minimum of two metres) with any we might meet. Fortunately we have Virginia lake close by and sometimes we take our morning walk there. This has allowed me to snap a few pictures of the water birds there, and I have been impressed again with the beauty of a mute swan - the bird with possibly the most feathers of any, some 25,000, with highest numbers on its neck.
