Tundra Swans on Icy Waters
Mar 12, 2019 21:50:34 #
These Tundra Swans (and a duck) were resting on the icy waters of the Bear River in Utah as they were migrating north. I had to crop much more than I wanted since they were a long way off, but I liked the image. D850 Nikkor 200-500mm with a 1.4TC shot at 700mm f/8.0, 1/1250, iso100
Mar 13, 2019 01:21:08 #
Mar 13, 2019 11:33:40 #
Retired CPO, Thanks. Tundra Swans are beautiful birds and fun to photograph either on the water or in the air.
Mar 13, 2019 16:51:28 #
Steve F wrote:
Retired CPO, Thanks. Tundra Swans are beautiful birds and fun to photograph either on the water or in the air.
Yes, I've seen and photographed a lot of them in Alaska. I'm still not sure how to distinguish between Tundra Swans and Trumpeter Swans at a distance. I think you might have Trumpeters here.
Mar 13, 2019 18:31:16 #
Retired CPO, Good question! Yes, they look VERY similar. I'm not a bird expert by any means. However, after some study, I think that the small bit of yellow at the base of the bill on the swan on the left identifies it as a Tundra Swan (might be difficult to see in the web photo). I understand that Trumpeter Swans beaks' are always completely black, but Tundra Swans usually (not always) have a small yellow portion of the beak near the eye. The swan on the right in the photo has a completely black bill and could be a Trumpeter, but I suspect that they are likely a mating pair. Also, last week was "Tundra Swan" day at Farmington Bird refuge which is nearby where I took the photo. I talked to a bird expert from the Utah Division of Wildlife who explained that the day had been selected because of the large number of Tundra Swans currently migrating north through Northern Utah from California where they spend the coldest part of the winter (I didn't discuss this photo with her though).
Mar 13, 2019 20:04:21 #
Yeah, Steve I think you are right. After download and several enlargements I can see the yellow and I think even some red/orange on the bottom of the base of the bill. So that makes the one on the left as a Tundra and the one on the right as a Trumpeter. I wonder if they interbreed?
Mar 13, 2019 22:04:03 #
Mar 13, 2019 22:13:44 #
Apr 14, 2019 08:34:09 #
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