[TN-Bird] Tundra Swans in West TN

Dec. 20, 2002
Corner of Lauderdale,
Crockett and
Haywood Co. Tenn.

I left Memphis at 3 PM, to make a run at Lauderdale Waterfowl Refuge. Upon 
arrival a quick scan revealed no large white birds, the object of my trip. 
Duck numbers seem to be down but the afternoon movement had not begun. The 
refuge is the best location in west TN for winter Tundra Swans and also the 
location of last years Trumpeter Swan tragedy.

I left there to check the Halls lagoons and the areas to the east. The 
lagoons can sometimes produce an interesting duck but nothing unusual today. 
Finally after driving back roads and searching known flooded hunting holes, I 
was on Two Rivers Road where the three counties meet. There is a dirt road on 
the east bank of the South Fork of the Forked Deer River that runs a little 
to the north into some prime hunting area. I saw through the trees, four 
large birds flying to the west. I knew they were swans and turned around and 
went about 1/4 mile west to a flooded field and watched the birds set down.

In the scope, I could see 3 immature birds, all marked and colored perfectly 
for Tundra and then an adult with a patch of yellow on the bill, before the 
eye. Very few Trumpeters can show vestiges of yellow at the lores but it is 
far more likely that Tundras can exhibit all black bills (15+%) so I studied 
the group for a considerable time. 

The birds started to paddle across the water to take to the air and held 
their necks straight out without a kink in the bunch, Tundra style. They 
circled once and finally disappeared just at dusk to the northeast, the 
direction they had come from earlier. I did get some distant photos of the 
group.

The plumage coloration of the young birds at this time of the year is 
diagnostic and the level posture, head shape and yellow on the loral area and 
a slightly concave culmen of the adult indicate all 4 birds were Tundra 
Swans.

There ride home was just as rewarding with the huge full moon coming up and 
seemly pushing Saturn higher in the sky. If you have not seen the two try 
tomorrow night they make a brilliant pair. In the scope looking at Saturn, 
one of my grandsons, Ryne says it looks like a hubcap.

OK, Chris where is my Black-chinned Hummer?

Good Birding!!!

Jeff R. Wilson
OL' COOT / TLBA
Bartlett Tenn.


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