[obol] Probable Trumpeter Swan at South Beaver Creek (Lincoln Co.)

[Range Bayer]

Hi,

  Usually swans do not linger in Lincoln County, but up to 4 swans have
been spordically reported in the Beaver Creek Valley/Makai area near Ona
Beach State Park in Lincoln County since Vikki Anderson first reported
one near the Seal Rock Stables on Nov. 25.  To get to the Stables from
HWY 101 at Ona Beach State Park, turn east onto Beaver Creek Road, drive
to the junction and turn onto South Beaver Creek Road, and the Stables
are at about Milepost 1.6.  This is private property, please respect
their property and do not block their driveway.  :-)

   On Saturday, Feb. 9, Laimons Osis saw a swan that he thought might be a
Trumpeter Swan at Seal Rock Stables pasture.  Laimons saw "no yellow on
the top bill, just a touch of pink or orange at the base of the lower
bill.  Looking through the scope, the black in the face seemed very
straight as in Sibley's picture of an adult Trumpeter."  Laimons noted
that it seemed larger than the swan that had been seen there
previously.  Although one swan has been seen at a time there, it does
not appear to be the same individual.

    Also on Saturday, Feb. 9 in the afternoon, Wayne Hoffman also saw a
swan that was near the Stables and writes:

it had all the facial features of a Trumpeter Swan:
Very long bill
Entirely black bill - no yellow spot
border between black of bill and white of cheek curved smoothly back to 
below the eye, rather than up the angle back
wider "gap between the feathers above and below, just in front of the eye 
(pinches down more in Tundra)."


   Separating Trumpeter from Tundra Swans can be tricky.  A large race of
Tundras sometimes occurs along the Oregon Coast, based on a
neck-collared one found at the Salmon River south of Cascade Head
several years ago.  A good guide for separating the two is at
http://www.trumpeterswansociety.org/id.htm

   Cheers,

Range Bayer