I know those swans - I've seen them several times, saw them Sunday as well, they've been there at least since the day after Christmas and they are Tundra Swans.
Cat Reid
Rose Haven
Marcy Stutzman <> wrote:
On Sunday, I did some birding on the Eastern Shore. In the late afternoon and
on my return trip, I noticed two swans in the pond between the two spans at
the eastern end of the Bay Bridge. They were tipped up (like Canada Geese
and dabbling ducks), so I didn't get a look at the heads. I'm guessing they
might be the Mute Swans that were found there in the past.
While at Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge and from the Tubby Cove
Boardwalk, I counted 13 Mute Swans close up and estimated 100-150 Tundra
Swans further out in the water. Two mature Bald Eagles were sitting on a snag
out in the water watching the Tundra Swans.
From deck overlooking the Chesapeake on the Bay Bayview-Butterfly Trail,
there was a large raft of waterfowl floating by. While standing there, a mature
Bald Eagle sitting in a tree began calling to another mature circling overhead.
The 2nd Bald Eagle flew in and joined the first. A mute swan flew by from the
left to the right. Could see both the Bay Bridge and the Key Bridge!
I checked out the Duck Inn Trail and found a lot of waterfowl on the Chester
River. Be sure to take a scope if you're heading down that trail.
At the Tundra Swan Boardwalk, the water was so low that the Ring-billed gulls
seemed to be walking on water. And a couple Great Blue Herons were trying
their luck at finding dinner.
The experience at Chesapeake Farms Sactuary Pond (the Farms' main
waterfowl rest area) was thrilling. As I was approaching on Ricauds Branch
Road, I looked to my right to see thousands of Snow Geese circling in the sky.
Something had spooked them and it took sometime for them to get settled. I
took the opportunity to check out the sparrows in the hedges that line
entrance to the Farms.
Marcy Stutzman
Russett, MD
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