After Jim Danzenbaker contacted me I hurried out to the Ridgefield NWR to see the swan he found with extensive yellow on the bill. Luckily Jim and the swan were still waiting for me at the southwest end of Rest Lake. It took me a while to locate the bird in the groups scattered across the wetlands. There was extensive yellow on the bill but it did not extend beyond the nostrils. What was puzzling was when I lost track of the bird in the milling flock I could locate it by looking for the largest bodied bird in the flock and waiting for it to raise it's head. A few TRUMPETER SWANS were present and this bird seemed to be at least the size of them unlike what would be expected from a "Bewick's" TUNDRA SWAN, which should be much smaller. I hope this bird sticks around so that we can get better views. Jim thought there might have been two different birds on the lake before I arrived so check the other flocks on the River "S" Unit for any swans with a lot of yellow on the bill.

Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA


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