Vermont Rare Bird Reports 2018

A number of people were in the area, mostly at the Charcoal Creek, but I was alone at the time of this observatoin

Clear and bright, but cold

Binos, 500mm DSLR lens

This submission is intended as a supplement, more than as an individual sighting, as I'm reasonably sure this was the same bird reported on the 18th and 19th. I submitted a RSD report for the sighting on the 18th, in which I mentioned seeing the bird again on the 19th in the same general area.

For this report, while I suspect it's the same bird, the location for this report is about 2 miles due west of the previous sighting.

The channel of Lake Champlain, leading from the "Inland sea" to Missisquoi Bay, under the West Swanton bridge. The channel was about half-frozen over at the time. The birds were north of the bridge, about half-way between Swanton and Alburgh. It should be noted that the lat/long provided about are approximate, taken from Google maps. The location on the eBird checklist was from my phone via ebird mobile.

Each of the previous two days, the swan had been seen in the nearby Charcoal Creek, in with a large number of canada geese. Before locating the swan in the lake, I had visited the Creek and did not see it
there. When seen at the time on the 20th, the swan was curled up in with a large group of canada geese, no other behavior observed.

N/A

After visiting Charcoal Creek and not seeing the swan, I stopped at the West Swanton boat access and could see a large number of canada geese on the lake, I noticed one larger white bird in with them, but too distant to get any positive ID. (see submitted photo 2)

From there, I crossed the bridge, stopping at more or less the high point on the bridge, where I could look down onto the swan, although still very distant. (see submitted photo 1).

Curled up at the time of sighting, approximately 50% bigger than surrounding canada geese

Not visible

Not visible

Solid white

solid white, from what could be seen

solid white, from what could be seen

solid white, from what could be seen

solid white, from what could be seen

The previous sightings and known proximity contributed strongly to this identification, as no distinct markings could be seen on the bird from this current vantage point.

As already mentioned, there were numerous (daily) sightings of a Trumpeter Swan in the Charcoal Creek area of Swanton between March 18th & 23rd. This report is intended more of a supplement to those sightings, as I'm relying on the knowledge of the swan being in the area to make this identification.

During this time frame, thousands of mostly canada geese were seen in both the Charcoal Creek and Lake Champlain areas, and it appeared that many birds were going back and forth between the locales.