Crash landing swan confuses road for lake

Motorists travelling on the N7 Naas Road in the Republic of Ireland yesterday at the Red Cow were forced to swerve to avoid an adult male swan who crash-landed on to the dual carriageway because he believed he was landing on a lake.

The Dublin Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) said it was a common occurrence at this time of year.



The birds are often confused by the sun's reflection off a wet road surface, which they take to be a body of water.

"He hit the ground really hard," DSPCA operations manager Orla Aungier said. "He's not using his legs and he's in really bad humour. He might just have some muscle damage. He was trying to drag himself off the road using his neck."

Many thanks Manuel Pombo!