[TN-Bird] Trumpeter Swan photos
- From: "Michael & Rebecca Todd" <birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 22 Feb 2010 20:18:38 -0600
2/22/10
Lake Graham, Madison Co
I only worked half the day today, so I was finally able to get over to Lake
Graham to check on the Swan that Mark reported recently. To my relief I saw it
swimming as soon as the Lake came into view. I spent about an hour and a half
with the bird, at the end it was only probably 15-20 yards offshore from where
I was.
The dusky color overall, and big black bill made me think Trumpeter when I
first started looking at the bird. Swans can be very tough ID's, and a
combination of factors have to be taken into account. The feathering at the
bill was closer to what Sibley shows for Tundra, so I can see how Ken was
leaning that way. This feature in particular to me isn't especially reliable. A
search of Trumpeter Swan photos will turn up birds with that nice even line
that they are 'supposed' to have, but also many with a curve, ala Tundra.
This bird also had the broad patch of skin between the eye and bill, so that
the eye pretty much blends into the face, and doesn't stand out as on Tundra; a
very good indicator. The major body axis, very well depicted by Jeff in his
photos this winter, was great for Trumpeter with the tail riding very low above
the water. The bill and head had that nice flat slope. The bill did have a
small area of very dull-flesh color in the center, which I looked for but
couldn't see, but which did show up in photos. The feathering at the forehead
came to a sharp point, but some young Tundra's are slow to develop the rounded
border of that species, so not sure how important that was in this case.
I have placed a number of shots of this bird in my Winter 2009-2010 gallery.
Light wasn't good today at all, but the bird was close enough most of the time
that it didn't matter. I think the last shot in the series is probably the
best, when it was closest just before I left. The first new image starts here:
http://www.pbase.com/mctodd/image/122213504/original
Good Birding!!
Mike Todd
McKenzie, TN
birder1@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
www.pbase.com/mctodd
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