-----Original Message-----
From: Rick Howie <rhowie at mail.ocis.net>
To: bcintbird at egroups.com <bcintbird at egroups.com>
Date: Sunday, November 07, 1999 8:59 PM
Subject: [bcintbird] Re: WHOOPER SWANS NEAR MERRITT, B.C.


>Further to Wayne's note: the immmatures have light patches on the
bill that
>roughly correspond to the large yellow patches on the adult. This is
>entirely consistent with the evolution of the pink-billed juveniles
to a
>bill color that resembles the adult pattern but much lighter of
course.
>(see recent edition of National Geographic Field guide)
>
>Also, the juveniles were noted by Syd as being lighter then TRUS.
This is
>also consistent with literature on waterfowl that details these
swans.
>
>This may be only the 3rd legitimate record for BC, so they are
somewhat
>rare.
>
>Despite being a most obvious group of birds, I think Wayne & Andy
deserve
>kudos for diligently searching the swan flocks and spotting these
birds.
>Well done!!
>
>It reminds us that we should always continue to search even the
commonplace.
>You just never know.
>If you get the 3 species at Mamit Lk, why not go to Beaver Ranch
Flats north
>of Nicola Lake and get the Mute Swan - a 4 swan day in BC
>Not easy to do !!
>
>There appeared to be more than 2 TRUS at Mamit when I arrived. It is
a good
>opportunity to study all species and hone your field id skills.
>
>Rick
>----- Original Message -----
>From: WAYNE WEBER <WAYNE_WEBER at bc.sympatico.ca>
>To: BCINTBIRD <bcintbird at egroups.com>; TWEETERS
<tweeters at u.washington.edu>;
>INLAND NW BIRDERS <inland-nw-birders at uidaho.edu>
>Cc: OBOL <obol at bobo.nws.orst.edu>
>Sent: November 07, 1999 7:35 PM
>Subject: [bcintbird] WHOOPER SWANS NEAR MERRITT, B.C.
>
>
>> Dear Birders,
>>
>> At about 11:30 A.M. today, November 7, Andy Raniseth and I
>> discovered three WHOOPER SWANS-- an adult accompanied by two
immature
>> birds-- at the south end of Mamit Lake, near Merritt, B.C. We left
the
>> area about 12 noon. Mamit Lake, a moderate-sized lake about 3.5 km
>> long and 0.5 km wide, is located along Provincial Highway 97C
between
>> Merritt and Logan Lake. The south end of the lake, where the
Whooper
>> Swans were seen, along with at least 87 TUNDRA SWANS and 2
TRUMPETER
>> SWANS, is located about 16 km (10 miles) south of Logan Lake.
>> Most of the swans were resting on the mudflats along the edge
of
>> the lake, or feeding along the shoreline. The WHOOPER SWANS were at
>> the extreme western edge of the scattered-out flock of swans,
farthest
>> from the highway (about 500 metres away). Despite the distance, the
>> lighting conditions were excellent, with sunshine illuminating the
>> birds from our left-hand side.
>> This group of swans was seen again by Rick Howie and Syd
Roberts
>> of Kamloops, between about 3:00 and 3:30 P.M. This time, they were
>> much closer to the highway, actually along the east side of Mamit
Lake
>> (the side the highway is on). I was going to report these as
>> "probable" Whooper Swans, because of the distance at which they
were
>> seen and my lack of previous experience with either Whooper or
>> Bewick's Swans. However, Rick and Syd saw them much closer than
Andy
>> and I, and are adamant about the identification being positive, so
I
>> will accept their conclusion.
>> The adult bird had a bill which was mainly yellow, and this
>> brilliant colour stood out like a sore thumb even at a distance of
500
>> metres (about 1/3 of a mile). The lower mandible was black; the
upper
>> mandible was black along the culmen for most of its length, and for
a
>> short distance on each side of the culmen, but was mainly bright
>> yellow. The yellow extended into a point near the tip of the bill,
as
>> shown for Whooper Swan in a number of field guides. The size of the
>> bird, in comparison to the other swans, was hard to judge at 500
>> metres. However, the size and proportions of the bird definitely
>> resembled a Trumpeter Swan more than a Tundra Swan. In particular,
I
>> noted that the bird frequently adopted the "kink-necked" at-ease
>> posture which is characteristic of both Trumpeter and Whooper
Swans,
>> but not of Tundra Swans (including Bewick's Swans). No calls
>> attributable to the Whooper Swans were heard in 30 minutes of
>> observation, although the Tundra Swans were quite vocal.
>> I will try to send out more detailed descriptions of the 3
birds
>> later, or ask Rick or Syd if they can do so.
>> The question of whether these birds were wild or were escaped
>> captives is a valid one. Some other Canadian sightings of this
species
>> have been considered to be probably escaped captives (Godfrey,
Birds
>> of Canada, 1986). However, because there was a family group of 3
birds
>> (missing one of the adults); because they were with a migratory
>> concentration of other swans; and because the locality is close to
>> (though not on) the Pacific Coast, I consider it highly probable
that
>> these swans were of wild origin.
>> For those interested in coming to look for the Whooper Swans:
>> Mamit Lake is a known Tundra Swan staging area, both spring and
fall,
>> and it is quite likely that the Whooper Swans may stay in the area
for
>> 7 to 10 days or more. However, all swans have normally left this
area
>> by the end of November. Washington and Oregon birders, be
forewarned--
>> the Whooper Swans may be headed your way!!
>>
>> Wayne C. Weber
>> 114-525 Dalgleish Drive
>> Kamloops, B.C. V2C 6E4
>> Phone: (250) 377-8865
>> wayne_weber at bc.sympatico.ca
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> -------------------------------------------------------------------
-----
>> Looking for that one of a kind collectible or unique home
decoration?
>> eBay has thousands of kitchenware, lamps, and collectibles up for
bid.
>> You never know what you might find at eBay!
>> http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/1141
>>
>> -- Check out your eGroup's private Chat room
>> -- http://www.egroups.com/ChatPage?listName=bcintbird&m=1
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
---
>Looking for that one of a kind collectible or unique home decoration?
>eBay has thousands of kitchenware, lamps, and collectibles up for
bid.
>You never know what you might find at eBay!
>http://clickhere.egroups.com/click/1141
>
>-- Easily schedule meetings and events using the group calendar!
>-- http://www.egroups.com/cal?listname=bcintbird&m=1
>
>