| Common Name | Trumpeter Swan |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus buccinator |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 09/26/2020 |
| Media | |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Allan Strong |
| Mailing Address | 9 Sebring Road South Burlington, VT 05403 United States Map It |
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| Date Completed | 09/26/2020 |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 44°37'47.77"N |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 73°14'13.13"W |
| Place Name | Sandbar State Park |
| Township | Milton |
| County | Chittenden |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 01:30 PM |
| Length of Time Observed | 15 minutes |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 1100 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 1100 |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | ID confirmed with Kowa TSN 823 spotting scope. |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | I see them regularly in upstate NY. Probably annually for the last 20 years. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Open bay. Bird was alone. Feeding in sparse emergent vegetation (bulrush). |
| Behaviors Observed | Actively feeding with head below the water surface. |
| Description of Vocalizations | No vocalizations. |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | With Lisa Nawrocki and our dog, Buzzy. We sat down for a snack at the park and I was looking for shorebirds in the shallow water when I noticed the swan. Key features of the bird which ruled out Tundra Swan, were: |
| Relative Size & Shape | Large bird with long neck |
| Head | See notes above |
| Feet & Bill | See notes above regarding the bill. Feet not observed. |
| Upper Back | White |
| Lower Back & Rump | White |
| Wings | White. Bird did not flap, so wings remained folded. |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | White above water line. |
| Tail | White |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | The bird was all white with the exception of the bill and eyes, so the lack of red-orange on the bill eliminates Mute Swan. The features noted above are consistent with Trumpeter Swan and not Tundra Swan. |
| Other Notes & Comments | Adult. Sex not determined. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Immediately After |
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