[Birdnet] Trumpeter & Bewick's Swan, LBBG, GLGU @ FBWMA

[Tim Avery]

So after getting home form Willard Bay and checking my email, I had no 
choice but to run back up to Farmington Bay to look for the Trumpeter 
Swans reported to birdtalk by Silvia Gray.  There were plenty of swans 
about this evening, at least 8 or 900 in the rest area east of the road 
and south of Egg Island.  After doing a quick scan of the birds on the 
north end of the impoundment I drove to the second bridge where the 
water flows out to the GSL.  I got out my scope and noticed one bird 
that stuck out from the others due to the size and shape of its head.  I 
got the scope on it and was pleased to see and adult Trumpeter (from 
what I could see) feeding just a few yards from a couple Tundra Swans, 
for a nice comparison.

http://timaverybirding.com/rare/trumpeter0210.jpg

The head is all black from digging in the mud, but the head shape is and 
thin neck are still clearly visible.

A fem minutes later as I continued to look for the bird with the neck 
collar (which I was unable to find, many of the birds were tucked and 
too far away to see), I found a swan that had quite a bit of 
orange/yellow on the bill, and for a second got excited that it may be a 
Whooper.  I had forgot to grab my field guide when I ran out the door so 
I called Colby Neuman who helped me rule out Whooper but conclude the 
bird is a "Bewick's" Tundra Swan, the Eurasian race.

http://timaverybirding.com/rare/bewicks0210.jpg

As I continued to scour the birds I had a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull fly 
through my scope and land on the edge of the ice about 300 yards out.  
About a minute later I caught a very dark mantled gull coming in and 
landing just feet away from the Glaucous.  It was an adult 
LESSER-BLACK-BACKED GULL!!!  At this point it was getting dark and I did 
the best to get a descent shot, by strapping the teleconverter on and 
snapping a few shots.  Nothing was really good, but here is a shot that 
will hopefully show... something...

http://timaverybirding.com/rare/lbbg0210.jpg


Good Birding, and keep these good birds a comin'!

Tim
Tim
http://www.timaverybirding.com
http://www.birdtography.com
Salt Lake City, Utah