Just Bewick's Swans? - Boyton, Suffolk (1 Viewer)

lostinjapan

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #1

Out and about in the nice weather this afternoon & 2 Swans caught my eye among 60+ Mutes. From a distance they seemed short-necked, quite stubby billed, but oddly the bills seemed all dark on both, just dirty perhaps I thought.

As I got closer though the bills seemed to be genuinely all dark. I couldn't discern any yellow on the bill, although I was viewing into the sun and so I guess some yellow is possible. They appeared to have a pinkish-orange colouration on the underside of the lower mandible, visible when they were feeding.

superficially they appear to resemble two Bewick's with 'colombianus'-like bills or just very dirty bills.

Sadly the photos are quite poor due to dodgy digiscoping, bright sun & distance.

Any thoughts gratefully received.

 

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Cristian Mihai

Cristian Mihai

• Dec 13, 2014

• #2

I would go with Mute Swan for the one on the right hand.

 

_pauls

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #3

Both Mutes I'd say

 

Finbirder

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #4

Mute Swans. The shape of their "black masks" goes all the way up to the eye.Bewick's Swans does not have that kind of mask at all.

 

Samuel Perfect

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #5

Any chance you can share the other pics on here? Not convinced it's just a Mute Swan, head shape a little more Whooper-like and angular.

 

S

SteveClifton

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #6

Clearly the bird on the right is a young Mute, but the other bird(s) are not. They look good for the American race of Tundra Swan (Whistling Swan) or Trumpeter Swan although I'm no expert.

 

Last edited: Dec 13, 2014

Andrew Whitehouse

Professor of Listening

Supporter

• Dec 13, 2014

• #7

Finbirder said:

Mute Swans. The shape of their "black masks" goes all the way up to the eye.Bewick's Swans does not have that kind of mask at all.

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I'm not sure what you mean by that:
http://www.photographers-resource.co.uk/images/wildlife/species/birds/swans/Bewicks_swan_head.jpg

 

_pauls

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #8

Samuel Perfect said:

head shape a little more Whooper-like and angular.

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That was my initial thought but on closer inspection I think its just the angle of the head. More photos would be good though.

 

Finbirder

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #9

Andrew Whitehouse said:

I'm not sure what you mean by that:
http://www.photographers-resource.co.uk/images/wildlife/species/birds/swans/Bewicks_swan_head.jpg

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I meant that the upper part of the mask of a Bewick's Swan is yellow like in this picture of your link. But I wasn't familiar with american race Whistling Swans, they seem to have a black mask throughout so I am not sure about my first reply after investigating more.

Out of interest how rare is the Whistling Swan in Britain?

 

lostinjapan

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #10

Most definitely not Mute Swan. I can only post 1 photo at a time from my mobile. Here is another pic of the two birds together. Sorry if the first photo caused confusion with the young Mute Swan in it.

 

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lostinjapan

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #11

Only 2 accepted records of Whistling Swan in the UK.

 

_pauls

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #12

If you open the image in Photoshop and up the contrast you'll see that the bird on the left has minimal black on the bill (less than any bewicks or whooper that I've ever seen) and the rest is simply "dark" because it is in shadow.

Unless there's another photo that literally sheds more light on the left hand bird I'm happy these are two mutes.

 

_pauls

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #13

2nd photo shows up now (wasnt showing before).

That pic looks altogether different and more interesting

 

Finbirder

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #14

lostinjapan said:

Most definitely not Mute Swan. I can only post 1 photo at a time from my mobile. Here is another pic of the two birds together. Sorry if the first photo caused confusion with the young Mute Swan in it.

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Birds of this pic does not look like Mute Swans anymore. Looks more like the American race Whistling Swans (or somekind of hybrids) but I don't have experience of those so I will say no more

 

lou salomon

the birdonist

• Dec 13, 2014

• #15

yes, both swans on the foreground, second pic, definitely have the look of whistling swan while the young bird in the background = the second one in pic 1 is a mute.

 

lewis20126

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #16

Offline discussion has them as Trumpeter Swans and I can't see why not

cheers, a

 

Farnboro John

Well-known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #17

lewis20126 said:

Offline discussion has them as Trumpeter Swans and I can't see why not

cheers, a

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I think we've had issues with wandering escaped Trumpeters in recent winters, but can't be bothered to research it this year having ticked them in Wyoming.

John

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Dec 13, 2014

• #18

Tail too short for Mute, too :t:

 

Bismarck Honeyeater

Barely known member

• Dec 13, 2014

• #19

lewis20126 said:

Offline discussion has them as Trumpeter Swans and I can't see why not

cheers, a

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I can't see any yellow in the bill, admittedly the pictures are a bit fuzzy, and I believe that Whistlers with all black bills are fairly uncommon. So can see why Trumpeter is being favoured. The shape looks more Bewicky though!

 

Nutcracker

Stop Brexit!

• Dec 14, 2014

• #20

Bismarck Honeyeater said:

The shape looks more Bewicky though!

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Size (equal to that juv Mute) favours Trumpeter.