Trumpeter and Tundra Swans in OK

Found our rare swans today. Although my wife and I have seen both species in other states, this was a first in OK. Found 3 Trumpeters and 2 Tundra Swans together. First pic is of all five. Obvious difference is size, the Trumpeters are larger.

Pic didn't upload. The five swans together.

The two Tundra Swans with some ducks for size comparison.

The 3 Trumpeter Swans.

That's really neat red! Nice pics!

Great to see our native swans instead of the mutes.

Congratulations on the rare sighting. They sure are beautiful birds.

They are beautiful...I am tempted to drive to Oklahoma and see them!

Nice pictures. They are really beautiful birds.

That was a real fruitful trip to the lake, those Swans are so nice.

It was a fun trip. Most of the time when you get a report of a rare bird and go chasing it, you come up empty. It's rewarding when you see them and an eagle was frosting on the cake. There are reports of a few swans wintering in OK. Sad to report one was shot and killed this week in Garvin County on a private watershed lake. It was a Trumpeter Swan, the largest North American water fowl. The bird weighed just a hare under 30 pounds after being dead for awhile. Local game warden and FWS are investigating the shooting. This weekend another pair is reported just a few miles away. They are on the Elmore City Lake, if anyone wants to venture a sighting.

Another pic of the Trumpeters with some shovelers in the background.

Why would someone shoot a swan? Just plain cussedness, I guess. Don't really think there is a worry about fish in a lake.

How neat to get to go see them right there in OK!

The Cleveland County CBC turned up 8 Trumpeters in the Norman city limits yesterday. They are on the neighborhood lake at Summit Lakes addition just east of 24th on Alameda St. I'll have to get out there and check them out.

Found the Trumpeters in Norman this p.m. and got some pics. There were 7 adult and 1 im. Lots of ducks on the small lake as well-- Gadwall, Ring-necks, Golden-eye, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers, Mallards, Redhead. A pleasant diversion from the cold weather.

Pic of the immature bird.

Very nice red!

Most of the Blue Herons are gone here, but found a couple near the swans.