| Common Name | Trumpeter Swan |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cygnus buccinator |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 09/25/2020 |
| Media |  |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Kenneth Copenhaver |
| Mailing Address | 220 Nichols Rd Fairfax, VT 05454 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 10/12/2020 |
| Names & Emails of Other Contributing Observers | Tom Hargy (I do not have his email or any other contact info, though he does have an eBird account.) |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 44.989198 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | -73.088495 |
| Place Name | Rock River Outlet |
| Township | Highgate Springs |
| County | Franklin |
| Time of Day | 11:30 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | 30 minutes |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 500 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 500 |
| Noteworthy Weather Conditions | I think it was overcast, but not entirely sure. |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | Zeiss Victory SF 8x42 binoculars and Zeiss Victory Diascope 65mm at 45X max. |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | I have previously observed this species on 3/22/2017 at the "Trumpeter Swan stakeout" eBird location near Brandon, VT; and on 8/25/2019 at "Montezuma NWR -- Knox Marcellus Marsh" eBird location. I have observed Tundra Swan on 12/2 and 12/3/2017 at "Campbell Bay / Mouth of Charcoal Creek" eBird location. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Where Rock River empties into Missisquoi Bay. Shallow water; nearby duck hunting blind. Accompanied by many Canada Geese nearby (did not count) and Great Egrets (14 total). Due to low water level, there were also several shorebird species on the mudflats, including Semipalmated Plover (2), Pectoral Sandpiper (1), and Lesser (3) and Greater (1) Yellowlegs. Additional Mallards and Teal species were in the distance, too distant to identify for sure. |
| Behaviors Observed | Was calmly feeding with its head underwater a significant amount of the time while observed. |
| Description of Vocalizations | none heard. |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | My eBird comment: "Large, all-white bird, considerably larger than nearby CANG. All-black base of black bill extends to eye and downward in a gentle curve, not angled as in TUSW. Have poor digiscoped photos." |
| Relative Size & Shape | Considerably larger than nearby Canada Geese. |
| Head | White |
| Feet & Bill | Bill all black, with all black base extending to the eye. |
| Upper Back | White |
| Lower Back & Rump | White |
| Wings | White |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | White |
| Tail | White |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | Bill was all black, whereas Mute Swan bill is orange. Tundra Swan would be smaller than this bird, and the base of the bill was all black with the rear edge having a gentle curve, not angular as for Tundra. |
| Other Notes & Comments | All-white adult plumage. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | During the Observation |
Vermont Atlas of Life Partners
