I tried to find the swan at Jug Bay this morning without any luck. Jim Stasz remained in the area, so hopefully it will still turn up. There were quite a few boats out today, so hopefully it moved somewhere more peaceful for while.

I tried yesterday for the adult Little Gull at Back River that Barry Cooper found, but no luck, others had been out through the day, also no luck.
 Hans Holbrook
Crofton, MD




________________________________
From: Jeff Shenot <>
To: 
Sent: Thu, April 1, 2010 7:59:27 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] swan at Jug Bay - id unknown

I noticed an interesting swan at Jug Bay this week  (first saw it Tuesday eve, I think but can't remember - may have been Sunday too hectic this week!) and at first simply assumed it was a Tundra.  It has been staying at upper end, south of railroad bed, on AA side of river in main part of Jug Bay.  It seems healthy/normal so I thought it is odd for it to be here now.  I got a distant (~600 feet) but studied look at it with my scope this evening, and am not convinced it is a Tundra.  It is a juvenile that is nearly in full adult plumage, but still has a light muddy look to some of its head and neck, and seems to have some characteristics of both.

Overall, the giz to me seems to lean toward a Trumpeter.  It has a blocky head and stout neck, and more of a V shape than a U shape to bill/plumage pattern.  Not always a clincher, according to Sibley, but a generally useful thing to look for.  It has no lore spot; could be due to age, but again not always there in Tundras according to Sibley.  If seen it would help id!  Bill shape seems like Trumpeter in profile/silhouette - I think of them as having a profile like a Canvasback, sort of a straight shot from top of head to tip of bill.  It's head looked rounded - a Tundra trait, but it was not not evenly rounded.  I don't know.  Maybe a closer look would help, but I doubt it.

If anyone else is out at Jug Bay and gets a chance, take a look!

Cheers-
Jeff Shenot
Croom Md