CH. Wetlands - honks, toots, and the silent one

[Dave]

Amidst the honking Canada Geese, there were 33 Trumpeter Swans at Cheam Lake around 430-5ish this afternoon. In the middle of the crowd was a juvenile Mute Swan

-DB (inspired by Thor to do some 'real quick' birding)

[Gord]

Hey! Right on! First trumpeter swans of the fall, plus a mute swan!

I wonder if this is the same guy from earlier this year, but the guy I saw in the summer was in its first summer plumage. This guy looks to not into its second fall or is not getting a orange bill and knob very white very fast. With the other swans at this time of year, they are either good and white or obviously juvenile. Ill have to see if I got any pictures of the one from earlier to compare. One mute swan is great, two mute swans is pretty cool too.

Glad you got out, Dave. Please do more.

[Gord]

Here's some shots, not as good as Daves, of the one from April this year. Does anyone know how long it takes for a mute swan to mature? Could it be longer than trumpeter and tundra swans? To me, the bird I saw is older than the one Dave saw this fall. 'Mine' looks to have more of a developed knob and is whiter. :