Hello,
After several of you sent me notes about what the white bird with black
wingtips could be I responded to the woman. She jumped on the fact that they
were whooping cranes.
I have posted her original note to me. Any others care to comment on the
potential for 3 whooping cranes flying over the Columbia River?

Note:
I'm hoping you can help me identify a type of bird I saw yesterday in
central Washington state flying over the Columbia River. There were 3 of
them. They were very, very large and clearly a type of swan, yet they had
black wing tips like a snow goose or egret. I've been living in the region
for over 30 years and have seen many different bird species, but never
these. And they definitely weren't snow geese--necks too long and they were
just too large. The neck type wasn't right for egrets. I can't seem to find
a swan type with black wing tips. Any thoughts on this? They were just
spectacular, an almost fluorescent white, wingspan of maybe 6 ft. Was in
such shock I didn't get a good look at feet or beak, despite the fact that
for a moment they were virtually at eye level (we were on a bridge, crossing
the Columbia.

I am open to anything.

Martha Jordan