I put my mediocre pictures of the Skagit Whooper Swan online. The
third-to-last picture shows the tan part of the underside of the bill:

http://www2.bc.edu/~merrillr/whooper/skagitwhooper.htm

This afternoon at Juanita Beach Park I noticed this American Wigeon that has
a cheek pattern similar to that of a male Wood Duck. Have other people run
into this before?

http://www2.bc.edu/~merrillr/wigeon1.jpg
http://www2.bc.edu/~merrillr/wigeon2.jpg

Thanks,
Ryan Merrill
Kirkland, WA


I did also note that part
> of the underside of the bill is pale in a sort of tongue shape. This
> underside patch did not seem yellow to me but more of a tan unlike the
> bright yellow patches on the sides of the bill. In fact I wondered
> whether it might be dried mud but later I found a photograph in a
> Japanese guide that shows this patch. I am wondering if anyone has
> gotten a photo of the swan in this location where it has been at very
> close range.