ML614052455

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

Update: 2/1/2024: Chuck Estes went out on kayak and played calls of both species. The swans both called back with Tundra calls. Original notes: ----- Immature swans (which are a seriously underrated ID challenge) silently swimming and feeding over 1/4 mile offshore. I’m not ready to make a call based on what I’ve seen so far, much of which is inconclusive. Hope to make it back out with my scope in better lighting. Bills are still very underdeveloped, yet all dark with no pink (seems to favor TRUS based on time of year). Extensive feathering around the bill and lores isolating the eyes (inconclusive and makes any judgements on shape of bill/feathering interface of adults moot). Cox’s 800mm photos (https://ebird.org/checklist/S159860439) show all of this well along with orange along basal edge (inconclusive). One bird has feathers extending from forehead over bill making a sharp V pattern, but this is typical of immatures of both species (see Pyle Part II, Fig 44). The second bird is paler overall and appears to have a more rounded interface on the top of the bill. Overall head and bill shape are Canvasback-like but immature Tundra bills also appear like this, and bill length “feels” shorter like Tundra. Based on Cox’s photos, nares appear about halfway between tip and top of bill which favors TRUS according to Pyle, but not precise from a single photo. Unclear how much underdevelopment of bill is contributing to all of these impressions. I have not seen a good photo of bill nail from above. Appear white-bodied with gray head and necks which favors Tundra this time of year but not out of line with some TRUS photos. Cox’s photos do show some brownish on body. Lighting and over exposure may be over emphasizing whiteness as some photo angles show more pronounced gray on head and neck.

Technical information

Model

Canon EOS 80D

ISO

320

Focal length

400 mm

Flash

Flash did not fire

f-stop

f/5.6

Shutter speed

1/500 sec

Dimensions

519 pixels x 207 pixels

Original file size

21.98 KB