Migration is always full of surprises, one just must use his eyes, ears and observe.
– Anonymous
On a cold, brisk day in November, local birder Don Marsh spotted many water birds out at Ridgway Reservoir. But this time, he saw a real treat – a Tundra Swan – a rare spotting for birders here in Ouray County.
He saw this beautiful swan at the southern end of Ridgway Reservoir, among other species of ducks.
It was hard for him to miss – these swans are big birds – about 52 inches long – and they have an even larger wingspan around 66 inches. They’re completely white, with a black bill and black feet, as well as black eyes. Sometimes they also have a yellow spot right below the eye at the base of their bills, but not always.
It’s rare to spot these birds here – and most of the time, they’ve been sighted in November and December, while migrating through the area.
Birder Coen Dexter previously kept records for Ouray County, and he reported two swans were seen at Ridgway Reservoir in the 1980s. On Dec. 21, 2010, I had the good luck to spot a Tundra Swan with several other birders in a small pond off County Road 24. Today, this wetland has dried up.
If you’re fortunate enough to see one of these birds, you’re most likely to find them near rivers, lakes, coastal waters, and even in fields feeding on spilled or unharvested grains.
Meriwether Lewis, during his expedition to the Pacific Northwest in the 1800s, noted the Tundra Swan’s characteristic flight sounds – a whistling in their wings – which led him to call the bird the “whistling swan.’ This name is still used by some.
Based on banding records, the oldest known Tundra Swan that was found with her band was a female 23 years and 7 months.
We are lucky to see some of these migrating birds that stop in our area even if it is just for one day. How exciting to see a rare bird like this!
THE FOLLOWING BIRDS WERE SIGHTED IN OURAY COUNTY IN NOVEMBER 2022: Canada Goose, Ross’s Goose**, Snow Goose*, Tundra Swan**, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Common Merganser, Hooded Merganser, Ruddy Duck, Dusky Grouse*, Wild Turkey, Western Grebe, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed hawk, Bald Eagle, Sandhill Cranes*, Ring-billed Gull, California Gull, Eurasian Collared- Dove, Merlin*, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, American Kestrel, Steller’s Jay, Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay, Clark’s Nutcracker, Black-billed Magpie, American Crow, Common Raven, Mountain Chickadee, Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Pygmy Nuthatch, Juniper Titmouse, Bushtit, American Robin, Townsend’s Solitaire, Mountain Bluebird, Starling, Chipping Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon, Slate-colored, Gray-headed, Pink-sided),White-throated Sparrow**, Red-winged blackbird, American Goldfinch, Rosy Finches (Black, Brown-capped, Gray-crowned, House Finch, Cassin’s Finch, Evening Grosbeak, House Sparrow.
Note: Ross’s Goose (may be a new species for Ouray,) nice variety of ducks, cranes flying over several different days, merlin (nice sighting), Snow Goose (nice sighting) Tundra Swan (only a few sightings for Ouray), White-throated Sparrow (rare).
