Post by Gord on Apr 20, 2006 9:19:34 GMT -8
Was out at Cheam yesterday. Saw the usual suspects including the first of the summer barn swallows (db saw his first yesterday too).
I also saw a swan out on the lake. I assumed a late trumpeter swan. I got the scope out and it turned out to be a young mute swan!
I watched it paddle around, preen at length and even take a short but strong flight for no apparent reason before landing again. It also had a problem with a ring-necked duck female and tried to pluck her feathers when she got too close. I dont know what the story with this bird could be. In the area, the only mute swans I was aware of were at Sardis Pond where they bred each summer. I think the City removed them in their efforts to make the park waterfowl unfriendly. 
The bird can fly, and I didnt see any bands on the one leg it exposed while preening.
I also saw a swan out on the lake. I assumed a late trumpeter swan. I got the scope out and it turned out to be a young mute swan!
I watched it paddle around, preen at length and even take a short but strong flight for no apparent reason before landing again. It also had a problem with a ring-necked duck female and tried to pluck her feathers when she got too close. I dont know what the story with this bird could be. In the area, the only mute swans I was aware of were at Sardis Pond where they bred each summer. I think the City removed them in their efforts to make the park waterfowl unfriendly. 
The bird can fly, and I didnt see any bands on the one leg it exposed while preening.