Hello Tweets and other birders,

We have recently obtained additional information and photos regarding our swan query and it is with no doubt now that the swan at Ocean Shores is a immature Tundra Swan.
We highly appreciate all the feedback from several of you that took time in replying back to us. With information obtained from a section of Joseph Morlan's website at http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/trswid.htm and additional reading in the October 1994 issue of ABA Birding"Identifying Trumpeter and Tundra Swans"pages 306-318. By reading most of the key information regarding immature swans and seeing the photograph of a bird that looked very,very similar to the Ocean Shores bird on page 310 we are convinced of the bird's true identity. We correct ourselves and should have figured right away of the bird's overall size that it was indeed a Tundra Swan,but we went strictly on bill shape and that's not good enough. Anyhow, Trumpeter Swan would be more likely candidate at the location given the coastal area with Tundra's quite unusual and more readily encountered further inland. To end we stand with Tundra Swan unless anyone feels any differently. Thank you again for those that replied privately to us.

Sincerely,

Ruth and Patrick Sullivan


----- Original Message -----
From: Ruth and/or Patrick Sullivan
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Sent: Tuesday, November 22, 2005 12:47 PM
Subject: [Tweeters] swan query


Hello Tweets,

It comes to our attention that the swan we initially identified as an immature Trumpeter Swan at Ocean Shores on the 20th of November is now in debate. We have placed 2 photos of the bird on our website for viewing if any of you may have any feedback or comments. The bird was bigger than the nearby Canada Geese it was with,but the bill was more or less Canvasback-like in shape like a typical Trumpeter Swan. We have just learned than some immature Tundra Swans can have similar shaped bills,but the key is the pale pink area at the base of the bill,where in Trumpeter Swans this is lacking. In our 2 photos the area at the base of the bill doesn't look pale,but more or less darkish and could be a result of the lighting. It looks like this area at the base of the bill will be turning darker in time,but seems to be non descript now. We welcome any replies back any of you may have.

Our photos of the swan in question cane be accessed at the following link: http://www.pbase.com/godwit/november05photos/


Sincerely,

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


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