Bewick's Swan?

[Gord]

Today I studied this odd swan at Hopedale Rd in Chilliwack. I strongly suspect it is a Bewick's swan, the Eurasian version of tundra swan found in Asia and Europe and a rare visitor to North America. I dont have any experience with this subspecies, but a lot with tundra swans, so Im basing my opinion on that. It would be nice to get the opinion of someone who sees Bewick's swans more often to take this ID from 99% to 100%.

Anyway, the discussion how I came to my semi-conclusion.

I could not find much literature on telling the difference between the tundra and Bewick's. I looked at some pictures of Bewick's swans taken in Europe. They seem to vary with the amount of yellow on their bills, just like the tundras here. Some have yellow that extends over the top of the bill, and others still have lots, but it doesnt meet over the top of the bill. Also, the amount of yellow on this bird matches fairly similar to the swan seen in Delta that has been accepted to be a Bewick's swan.

Other clues to look for in a Bewick's swan is a thicker and shorter neck, smaller bill and body than a tundra swan.

Today I looked in more detail at this guy. There were about 30 tundra swans there today, and this guy was in the middle of a bunch of them and offering good comparisons. Unfortunately, the wind was howling and made digiscoped pictures quality about as good as the handheld ones I did thanks to shaking the tripod.

I thought this bird's neck was thicker and shorter than the tundras, but not by much. Also it appeared a little smaller. The bill seemed the most obvious, but possibly the amount of yellow on it made it look smaller.

Here's some pictures. See what you think! All the swans that are with this bird in the pictures are tundra swans. The distance (200 yds) and high winds made for poor pictures. I tried to include images of different angles.

[tmanson]

Gord: Nice find. Looks like a Bewick's to me; but then I have only seen one other. Any particular cross street on Hopedale?
Thor
Thor Manson
Hope B.C.

[tmanson]

Gord: Had a very quick look today on Hopedale near Adams. My wife and I were on a shopping trip, so didn't really have time to hang around. There were only about 6 swans in this area around 1:00 p.m., and they all looked like Trumpeters. A small flock did a flyover while we were there heading West. Maybe this group contained the Bewick's ?? I did see a couple of Tundras in this same area on Thursday, but didn't notice the Bewick's then either. I guess it's moving around. Thor

[Gord]

Thor

My parents live close by, and said a big flock was there in the morning. Im not sure what happened as for the last two - three weeks, they seem to stay all day, maybe moving from one side of Hopedale to the other. I went by at 2:00 and then again at 4:00 and nothing there. The number of birds using that field has gone up in the last week though. More trumpeters and TONS more tundra. Over 30 there yesterday! Forgot to mention, one with a neck band.

I wonder if they're thinking about moving north already?

Worth checking No. 3 Rd area in Abbotsford. There's been tons in that area this winter.

[Gord]

This flock of swans has not been in the area for the last week. They seemed to have moved on, but are possibly still in the area but in different fields.


I asked for advice on this bird, and it has been confirmed as a Bewick's swan. It was interesting to hear from someone who sees them regularly. Seems some of the information I found was exaggerated as to its usefulness. The message, posted with permission is below. Thanks Lee!


Gord

In my view, the extent of yellow on the bill of this bird is outside the variation of North American Whistling Swan. As far as I can ascertain, this is a fairly normal adult BEWICK'S SWAN - a species I see regularly in Britain between October and March. The fact that the yellow extends on to the upper border of the bill further confirms the bird's identification. Whistling Swan averages slightly longer in length and has been tentatively claimed to be snowy-whiter in appearance (Antony McGeehan in litt.). Birders also claim that Whistling Swan has a longer, thinner neck but I believe this feature to be of little use in the field.

As far as I am concerned, the only way the two species can be separated is by the amount and extent of yellow on the bill. I accept just four Whistling Swans in Britain and Ireland.

All the very best

LEE G R EVANS
UK400 Club, Rare Birds Magazine & Ornithological Consultancy
Discussion Forum/Email Group: groups.yahoo.com/group/UK400Club/
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[tmanson]

Gord: Good on ya for going the extra mile on the id for the Bewick's Swan. I think Whistling Swan always enters birders' minds when they see the extra yellow on the bill, but as your contact says there would have to be considerably more on the Chilliwack bird to be considered. Like you said, it could be the twin of the Delta Bewick's. You're definitely on a roll, so keep on looking. Despite the chilly temps, Spring is almost here, and it was Greendale where I saw my only Brambling a few years back. Something equally as interesting will undoubtedly show up with more eyes looking. Thor

Thor Manson
Hope, B.C.

[Dave]

I am excited about this spring, now that this website is up and running. Thor is right, more eyes are looking, but we have a common spot to report as well

I have checked the Cheam Wetlands several times recently, but have not come up with anything unusual. I took this picture for fun (you have to do something with the camera to justify the cost)






I left school earlier than usual today (430ish) to check out the huge group of gulls hanging out in a field where they are injecting manure on the corner of Castleman and McGrath Road, but only discovered that the farmers were finished and the 200+ gulls were gone. So I took the scenic way home and saw lots of Common Goldeneye and Common Mergansers in the Fraser River.

[Gord]

Nice pic Dave. The early evening light is always nice to shoot in and creates nice pictures that justifies the cost of cameras easily.

I found a picture that has the opposite of what I provided. It's of a flock of Bewick's swans and one tundra swan. Interesting to note that in the Netherlands, they consider the species to be two seperate species.

home.hetnet.nl/~f2hj.vdlaan/flutzwan.htm