[birding] Trumpeter Swan flock still near Airlie

[Joel Geier]

Hello folks,

In an effort to get a decent count of the TRUMPETER SWAN flock wintering
in southern Polk Co., before they head north in a couple of weeks, I
detoured up toward Airlie yesterday afternoon. 

There were about 90 swans in the field to the NE of the intersection of
Airlie Rd. and Berry Creek Rd. I counted 48 definite Trumpeters and
guessed that at least a couple more with their heads down and/or
obscured by others were also Trumpeters. So I came up with 50 (plus or
minus a couple) as an estimate. The rest of the swans appeared to be
Tundra Swans.  Most of the swans closer to the road were Trumpeters
while the ones further back were mainly Tundras, though there was a lot
of mingling so it would be hard to get a more precise count.

The numbers suggest that this flock has remained stable from past years.
The other, smaller groups of Trumpeters showing up around the valley
must reflect an overall increase in wintering numbers.

Also of interest were two SHORT-EARED OWLS sitting up in the same field,
and a WHITE-TAILED KITE perched on a fencepost right behind the flock.
It was fun to have Trumpeters, Tundras, Short-eared Owls and a kite all
lined up in one scope view. A couple of miles to the east, I saw five
more swans which appeared to be Tundra Swans, plus a PRAIRIE FALCON
which was a few poles south of Airlie Rd. on De Armond Rd. 

Happy birding,
Joel

P.S. I regret to say, this was a motorized trip. I've been trying to get
my old neglected bicycle tuned up. However I was getting worried that no
one would get a decent count before the Trumpeter flock heads north in
late February ... so that's my excuse for cheating. I did pick up a
frame pump on this trip to town, so hope to get back up there in
motorless mode.

--
Joel Geier
Camp Adair area north of Corvallis