I have noted over the last week or so, reports of Trumpeter Swans at
Svensen Island. I'm pretty sure the birds in the attached photo are
the same birds. Note they lack the yellow tear drop at the base of the
eye.
Alas, they are not Trumpeter Swans, they are spotless Tundra Swans.
Even though Sibley says they are rare, they are not all that rare on
the lower Columbia.
What makes these Tundra Swans are all the other field marks including
the shape of the bill, the shape of the attachment point at the top of
the culmen, the shape of the gape and the of the bit of black in front
of the eye. They are also nearly the same size overall as swans with
yellow spots next to them.
I cannot say that other folks are not seeing Trumpeter Swans at
Svensen Island. I can only say that I visited Svensen Island three
time this week and found only Tundra Swans including several that
lacked the not-so-definitive yellow tear drop.
And if there is still a Trumpeter at Ziak's, it's still a pinioned
pet...
--
Mike Patterson
Astoria, OR
That question...
http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/northcoastdiaries/?p=3294
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