Swans on Valmont Reservoir

[Jeff Parks]

Hi all -

After I was out visiting some friends, I stopped by Valmont Reservoir for a quick visit yesterday afternoon hoping to see something interesting.  On the east end of the reservoir, there were four large swans.  Tundra Swans, I thought, and tried to get better looks with my binoculars, since I had left the scope at home.  As I watched them, it looked like three of them were larger than the fourth, and the smaller one had more grey on it as well.  I couldn't see them well enough to call the larger ones Trumpeter Swans, but it seemed possible.  In the evening, while I was looking through eBird reports from the day, I noticed that a couple of other birders (Paul Bonfils and Donald Jones) had been out there as well, and both of them ID'd them as Trumpeter Swans, and Paul had a couple of pictures posted. Hopefully they will stick around for a little while so I can get back out there with a scope. 

On another note, while watching the birds that were close enough to see with binoculars, I noticed a large gull in the water in with a small flock of Coots and Hooded Mergansers.  It seemed larger than a Ring-Billed, and I couldn't make out any black on any of the feathers.  Donald Jones reported a Glaucous Gull yesterday, so I may have seen that one as well.  Once again, I was kicking myself for leaving the scope at home. 

There was also a couple of juvenile Bald Eagles in the vicinity.  The cold weather has not affected Valmont Reservoir, it didn't have any ice on it that I could see.  The forecast for today is more cold weather with a little snow, but as long as the wind stays calm, it shouldn't be too bad. 

Good Birding -

Jeff Parks
Boulder, CO

[Jeff Parks]

OK, I went out there this morning to take another look, and brought the scope along.  From what I can tell, these are Trumpeter Swans, based on the size, the bill shape, and by comparing them with the Tundra Swan that is also out there.  As Donald Jones noted, they are larger than the Tundra Swan, with stockier necks and bigger bills.  The bill has a fairly straight edge along the side where it meets the feathers, and has a distinct U or V shape between the eyes where the dark beak meets the feathers.  The Tundra Swan has more of a flat line between the eyes.  I got a few pictures, but couldn't get one of them facing me to show the U shape.  Views through the scope showed this quite clearly, however.  The three larger swans seemed to stay together most of the time, with the smaller one getting a little farther away from the group from time to time. 

On another note, while observing the large merganser flock, I spotted some Western Grebes along with another Grebe that looked like it could be one of the Red-Necked Grebes that were here recently.  It was on the far side of the reservoir, and there was a light wind with a little fog, so I was not able to see it clearly, but the size and general coloration was right for a RNGR. 

OK, now to warm up my toes!

Jeff Parks
Boulder