Trumpeter Swans

CDMOOSE · 21st of April 2011 (Thu)

My friend, Russell, and I made a field trip today west along the Rainy River and through rural roads south of the Lake of the Woods. It was a great day, sunny, + 53F, and a number of nifty birds. And on the way home we found a pair of trumpeter swans in a gravel pit along the highway. The species had nearly been extirpated in MN, but in recent years has made a remarkable recovery. Previously, I had heard them in SW Yellowstone, but never seen one. What a joy to actually photograph them.

CDMOOSE · 21st of April 2011 (Thu)

....and while Dbriz's snow and ice have all but left, here is a view north from Long Point on the south shore of Lake of the Woods. Suffice it to say, I am ready for a substantial warm-up. And to think, in two more months the days will be getting shorter again!!!

Snydremark · 21st of April 2011 (Thu)

Very nice; congratulations! I stumbled on my first flock of these guys about a month ago or so; it really is fun to be able to see them in the wild. They're SO big

Jeff Dyck · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

Very nice Al - really like the inflight shot.

I feel your pain with the snow and ice! We are starting to see a lot of raptors and waterfowl (including many swans) congregating around the open water up here - good for photography, but I'll take the warmer weather...

westernminnguy · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

Nice shots of the Trumpeters. I live in Fergus Falls, MN and we have Trumpeters throughout the winter. They head north as the weather warms....if it will ever warm.

Pretty country up where you are.

kmunroe · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

nice shots Allan .. #2 is my favorite

dbriz · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

Excellent find and captures Al, beautiful birds... that flier is special, what a nice shot... but I have seen enough of that last shot......... tough boating for you buddy...

db

CDMOOSE · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snydremark

Very nice; congratulations! I stumbled on my first flock of these guys about a month ago or so; it really is fun to be able to see them in the wild. They're SO big

Thank you. They are big! They looked like a refrigerator sitting out in the gravel pit.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Dyck

Very nice Al - really like the inflight shot.

I feel your pain with the snow and ice! We are starting to see a lot of raptors and waterfowl (including many swans) congregating around the open water up here - good for photography, but I'll take the warmer weather...

Thanks, Jeff. Hopefully, the coming warm weather will soften things up a bit for us. I'm ready.

Quote:

Originally Posted by westernminnguy

Nice shots of the Trumpeters. I live in Fergus Falls, MN and we have Trumpeters throughout the winter. They head north as the weather warms....if it will ever warm.

Pretty country up where you are.

Thank you. We are thinking of heading toward the Agassiz Refuge soon. It sounds like it's chock full of things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmunroe

nice shots Allan .. #2 is my favorite

Thanks. It takes these guys a while to get their speed up and with yesterday's strong south wind I was able to get perhaps a dozen good shots before they got out of range.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbriz

Excellent find and captures Al, beautiful birds... that flier is special, what a nice shot... but I have seen enough of that last shot......... tough boating for you buddy...

db

Tough boating is right, Dave. It was a little disheartening to see all that ice. But a good day for birding, nevertheless. Thanks for commenting, my friend.

Al

kpflynn · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

My brother in IA said that some of these have been showing up this year.

CDMOOSE · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

Apparently they are making quite the comeback in the mid-west and isn't that great!

carlogalliani · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

very good shots
well done

canonloader · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

Nice find Moose. They are not that rare though. Get over on the Mississippi and there are lots of Trumpeters and Tundras coming down in the fall. Some even stay here in La Crosse all winter. All they need is a bit of open water in the shallows.

CDMOOSE · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

Quote:

Originally Posted by canonloader

Nice find Moose. They are not that rare though. Get over on the Mississippi and there are lots of Trumpeters and Tundras coming down in the fall. Some even stay here in La Crosse all winter. All they need is a bit of open water in the shallows.

Thank you. I think they have really made a comeback compared to years ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carlogalliani

very good shots
well done

Thank you!

jgrussell · 22nd of April 2011 (Fri)

EEEEEEK! That ice is appalling!

CDMOOSE · 23rd of April 2011 (Sat)

Quote:

Originally Posted by jgrussell

EEEEEEK! That ice is appalling!

Tell me about it!

21st of April 2011 (Thu)	#3
Snydremark Cream of the Crop Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Issaquah, WA Posts: 12,530 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Trumpeter Swans Very nice; congratulations! I stumbled on my first flock of these guys about a month ago or so; it really is fun to be able to see them in the wild. They're SO big __________________ - Eric S.: My Birds/Wildlife (7D, 40D, Canon 10-22 f/3.5-4.5, Canon 24-105L f/4 IS, Canon 70-200L f/2.8 IS MkII, Canon 100-400L f/4.5-5.6 IS, Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro, Tamron 18-270 DiII PZD, 580EX II) "The easiest way to improve your photos is to adjust the loose nut between the shutter release and the ground."

22nd of April 2011 (Fri)	#4
Jeff Dyck Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Dryden, Ontario Posts: 505 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Trumpeter Swans Very nice Al - really like the inflight shot. I feel your pain with the snow and ice! We are starting to see a lot of raptors and waterfowl (including many swans) congregating around the open water up here - good for photography, but I'll take the warmer weather...

22nd of April 2011 (Fri)	#5
westernminnguy Goldmember Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Western Minnesota Posts: 2,047 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Trumpeter Swans Nice shots of the Trumpeters. I live in Fergus Falls, MN and we have Trumpeters throughout the winter. They head north as the weather warms....if it will ever warm. Pretty country up where you are. __________________ IMAGES VIDEO YouTube VIDEO Vimeo

22nd of April 2011 (Fri)	#6
kmunroe Cream of the Crop Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Nova Scotia ,canada Posts: 12,821 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Trumpeter Swans nice shots Allan .. #2 is my favorite

22nd of April 2011 (Fri)	#7
dbriz POTN MILLIONAIRE Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Arrowhead of Minnesota Posts: 8,974	Re: Trumpeter Swans Excellent find and captures Al, beautiful birds... that flier is special, what a nice shot... but I have seen enough of that last shot......... tough boating for you buddy... db __________________ 7d, 50D, 400mm f/5.6, 300mm f/4, 70-200mm f/4 IS, 50mm f/1.8

22nd of April 2011 (Fri)	#9
kpflynn Goldmember Join Date: May 2010 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 2,185 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Trumpeter Swans My brother in IA said that some of these have been showing up this year.

22nd of April 2011 (Fri)	#10
CDMOOSE Goldmember Join Date: May 2009 Location: Rainy Lake, N. MN Posts: 4,752 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Trumpeter Swans Apparently they are making quite the comeback in the mid-west and isn't that great!

22nd of April 2011 (Fri)	#11
carlogalliani Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 1,051	Re: Trumpeter Swans very good shots well done __________________ Carlo Galliani http://www.pbase.com/carlogalliani

22nd of April 2011 (Fri)	#12
canonloader Cream of the Crop Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Behind A Camera Posts: 52,850 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Trumpeter Swans Nice find Moose. They are not that rare though. Get over on the Mississippi and there are lots of Trumpeters and Tundras coming down in the fall. Some even stay here in La Crosse all winter. All they need is a bit of open water in the shallows. __________________ Mitch- ____...^.^...____ My Microscope Stuff Gear List, My Flash Gallery, My You Tube, Ride My Bi-Sickle War is not about who's right, it's about who's left.

22nd of April 2011 (Fri)	#14
jgrussell Looking around nervously Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ USA Posts: 18,786 IMAGE EDITING OK	Re: Trumpeter Swans EEEEEEK! That ice is appalling! __________________ -- jgr blog \| gear \| my birds

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Trumpeter Swans	andrewhuxman	Birds	19	17th of January 2011 (Mon) 18:09
Trumpeter Swans	risingwolf	Birds	6	14th of March 2010 (Sun) 20:23
Trumpeter Swans	gabebalazs	Birds	9	22nd of October 2009 (Thu) 10:09
TRUMPETER SWANS	just pictures	Wildlife	2	26th of February 2007 (Mon) 23:37
Trumpeter Swans	AKRover	Birds	2	8th of June 2006 (Thu) 06:48