ML306304051

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Immature Tundra Swan feeding with a large flock of Sandhill Cranes on the eastern edge of the large field north of the Visitor's Center. Even though the bird was about a 500 yards away, its pale color and large size identified as soon as I looked at the flock. Watched it feeding with the cranes for about 15 minutes. Observed through 8x40 binoculars and a 77mm spotting scope at 20x - 40x. Observed until something spooked the flock and the swan and cranes took to the air and landed farther away behind a ridge running through the field. No visible yellow on the black bill. Grayish head and upper neck with rest of the plumage showing the dull white of an immature bird. Black bill likely indicates the Whistling Swan sub-species. Wonderful to see one of these big birds. The last time I saw them at the refuge, they were still called Whistling Swans.

Technical information

Model

COOLPIX P900

ISO

400

Focal length

357 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/7.1

Shutter speed

1/400 sec

Dimensions

1280 pixels x 593 pixels

Original file size

792.28 KB