Tundra Swan

Description:

A large, white Swan I thought to be a Trumpeter (what we normally see) until I noticed the yellow patch between the eye and the bill.

Habitat:

On a river close to a dam that helps keeps this area ice-free when other areas freeze over completely.

Notes:

It was a pretty cold day with a high of 9 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of -11. With how low the water levels are, due to drought, many areas that normally have stayed open are frozen over completely this winter. I've seen larger, denser populations of waterfowl in open areas because of this (I believe). Driving over the dam I spotted a number of Swans near an area of public land I could easily get to on foot so I parked the car and hiked down closer to the river. Most of the Swans were quick to paddle away, further down the river, but one stayed close enough for me to photograph before joining the others. He or she did not appear injured or sick, just less shy of humans perhaps. While sitting on the ground next to the river I also noticed: a Mink, a Kangaroo Rat, three Common Goldeneye (males all) and numerous Trumpeter Swans in the area. I thought I could outlast the Swan's trepidation of me but they proved far more hardy than I this day and never came close enough for decent images or to see/count how many (if any) other Tundra Swans there were. This is my fourth winter living year-round up here and its the first Tundra Swan I've met. I wish I could have lasted longer, to see if it was a lone Tundra Swan or if there was a flock of them, but after an hour sitting next to the river my fingers and toes had gone completely numb and I knew I had to get some heat back in them. The Swans had been slowly making their way closer and my getting up to go to the car disturbed what little trust I'd gained so I knew going back and trying again after warming up wasn't an option. My grandson is back, after spending his birthday and holidays with him mother, so I don't know when I'll be able to get back down there but its definitely on my list of places to revisit...soon. http://www.weather.com/weather/pastweath...