Swans, Fountain Creek Regional Park, El Paso County

[Ted Floyd]

Hey, everybody. The swans at Fountain Creek Regional Park, El Paso County, provide a fine opportunity of comparative study of the two species. Here they are in profile and head-on views (Tundra, left; Trumpeter, right):

And here they are together (Trumpeter, rear, left; Tundra, front, right):

David Sibley has a nice overview at his website:

http://www.sibleyguides.com/2006/02/distinguishing-trumpeter-and-tundra-swans/

The swans aren't the only reason for a visit to Fountain Creek right now. On the CBC yesterday, Wed., Dec. 14, Andrew Floyd and I worked the park basically from the nature center northward, finding Wood Duck, Hooded Merganser, Bald Eagle, Virginia Rail, Killdeer, Mountain Chickadee, Bushtit, Brown Creeper, Marsh Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Pipit, Myrtle Warbler, Audubon's Warbler, and Swamp Sparrow. And I know that Diana Beatty's group, working the park south of Andrew and me, had some nice birds, e.g., Northern Shrike.

eBird checklist and photos here:

http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S33028098

Ted Floyd
Lafayette, Boulder County, Colorado