Swans Visit Tillamook
At the tail end of 2021, into the first week of 2022 we had some visitors from the Genus Cygnus. Six swans were initially seen on 12/30 by Julie and Conor Scotland from Goodspeed Road, and identified as Tundras. Later that day, Kathy and Michael Krall viewed 7 birds, including a first year bird, from Goodspeed and Makinster Roads. Photographs of those birds appeared to show good evidence for Tundras (Cygnus columbianus) including pink at the base of the 1st year bird's beak and a rounded border to the adult bird's beak at the forehead. Other field marks such as rounding of the back, and shape of the edge of the bill were more difficult to appreciate. Trumpeters are significantly larger and heavier (80" wingspan and 23# compared to 66” and 14.4#, on average) but since they were not side by side this too was a difficult call. Speaking of call, the birds were not vocalizing, thus depriving us of this important clue. The following day, Kevin Scaldeferri observed a total of three swans from Makinster Road at almost the same location, but surprisingly these birds appeared to have characteristics to support Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator)! Was this a case of misidentification? A mixed group? Or an entirely new set of birds apparently replacing the others? Kevin's photos clearly showed more black in contact with the eye in the adults than in Michael's earlier photos. The 1st year (juvenile) bird also appeared to be different than the earlier one, with much less pink apparent on the bill. The consensus of several experienced birders was that in fact these were two different groups of birds, the first set Tundras and the second set Trumpeters. Both species are seen in Tillamook County, with Tundra more regular and expected. Check out the comparisons below and tell us what you think! Photos taken at distance and not ideal, yet hopefully instructive.
(Click on photos for caption and to enlarge.)
At the tail end of 2021, into the first week of 2022 we had some visitors from the Genus Cygnus. Six swans were initially seen on 12/30 by Julie and Conor Scotland from Goodspeed Road, and identified as Tundras. Later that day, Kathy and Michael Krall viewed 7 birds, including a first year bird, from Goodspeed and Makinster Roads. Photographs of those birds appeared to show good evidence for Tundras (Cygnus columbianus) including pink at the base of the 1st year bird's beak and a rounded border to the adult bird's beak at the forehead. Other field marks such as rounding of the back, and shape of the edge of the bill were more difficult to appreciate. Trumpeters are significantly larger and heavier (80" wingspan and 23# compared to 66” and 14.4#, on average) but since they were not side by side this too was a difficult call. Speaking of call, the birds were not vocalizing, thus depriving us of this important clue. The following day, Kevin Scaldeferri observed a total of three swans from Makinster Road at almost the same location, but surprisingly these birds appeared to have characteristics to support Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator)! Was this a case of misidentification? A mixed group? Or an entirely new set of birds apparently replacing the others? Kevin's photos clearly showed more black in contact with the eye in the adults than in Michael's earlier photos. The 1st year (juvenile) bird also appeared to be different than the earlier one, with much less pink apparent on the bill. The consensus of several experienced birders was that in fact these were two different groups of birds, the first set Tundras and the second set Trumpeters. Both species are seen in Tillamook County, with Tundra more regular and expected. Check out the comparisons below and tell us what you think! Photos taken at distance and not ideal, yet hopefully instructive.
(Click on photos for caption and to enlarge.)
Tillamook Birder - Generated Checklist* (BirdNotes)
Tillamook County Historical Sightings (to August 2013)
Click here for supporting checklist data for this report.
*This checklist generated from sightings reported on Birdnotes.net. See "Lists" page for links to official Tillamook County Checklists.
Click here for supporting checklist data for this report.
*This checklist generated from sightings reported on Birdnotes.net. See "Lists" page for links to official Tillamook County Checklists.
Total number of species: 361