Subject: Fw: Bewick's Swan on Fir Island.
Date: Feb 21 19:33:19 2004
From: Ruth Sullivan - godwit at worldnet.att.net


Hello Tweets,

We wanted to forward this message we received from Keith Brady yesterday of a Bewick's Swan that he observed on the 19th of February near Fir Island Rd. on the Skagit Flats for those that may be interested.

Sincerely,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan
Tacoma,WA
godwit at worldnet..att.net

----- Original Message -----
From: Shannon & Keith Brady
To: Ruth Sullivan
Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 10:36 AM


Hello, just a note to say I had a wonderful day at the Skagit/Samish flats yesterday. Took it easy, but still tallied just under 90 species. Of most interest was an apparent Bewick's Swan, seen very well from about 75 feet thru my scope. It was aside 2 Whistling Swans with "maximum yellow" (as in Sibley), but still blew them away with the amount of bill coloring (at least twice as much, twice as wide and was also a bit more orangey-yellow than all the other Whistlers around it). The color reached the centerline of the bill on top, but did not cross it (to meet the yellow from the other side), leaving just a narrow bit of black showing down the centerline. I have seen pics on the internet of "Bewick's" with yellow that goes all the way across the top of the bill to meet the other side and pics of some that do not. Anyway, just wanted to let you know. The bird was with many other swans on Moore Road where it takes off from Fir Island Road just past the bridge that goes over the North Fork of the Skagit River. I have seen Bewick's at Prudhoe before. If anyone looks for this bird and says they think they saw it, it is not the right bird! Like I said there were at least 2 other Tundras with enough yellow to make some wonder, but this bird was in a league of its own. Keith