Subject: [Tweeters] A Swanning I did go
Date: Dec 26 20:13:17 2006
From: Rob Conway - robin_birder at hotmail.com


Tweets,

The report of a Whooper in Snohomish was just too much to pass up - so I
jumped in the car and headed for Snohomish. I'm guessing from the current
reports that every other car on Springhetti, Broadway and Larimer must have
been birders looking to find the bird. I lucked out. I was at the field
right off Springhetti right at about 11:45 - pulled up put up my opticals
and within 3 minutes had the bird. Spent some time documenting and
sketching and then scanned the fields again. There were both Trumpeters and
Tundras in other locations in the field. THEN....

I decided to check out the flocks that have been frequenting the Carnation
area. I found a loose flock of over 200 birds just west and north of town
McDonald/310th/Carnation Farm areas. I checked the birds out...Trumpeter,
Trumpeter, Trumpeter, Tundra, Trumpeter, Tundra - wait that looks
weird...another Whooper? no BEWICKS! The bill on this bird was way too
small for a Whooper and the bird itself is slightly smaller - when you're
scanning those fields for a yellow billed Swan make sure you check out the
details. I was literally giddy. Four Swans in 1.5 hours in Washington -
Whooper is new state bird for me and Bewicks a new King County Bird. I
actually thought about driving up to Lyman to see if any of the Mute Swans
that inhabit the Fraser country just north of the border had sneaked
south...but I thought better of it.

I also saw the Emporer goose for a second time today.

Cheers and good birding,

Rob

Rob Conway
Newcastle, WA

robin_birder at hotmail.com

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