Flock of Tundra Swans in flight over a marsh – Nikon D200, f6.3, 1/1250, ISO 400, +1.0 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
Last night I was looking through images that I took on October 24, 2017 and I realized that was when I first heard and saw flocks of migrating Tundra Swans flying over the marshes in the fall of 2017. I was so delighted to see my first of the year Tundras.
As usual I heard the Tundra Swans well before I saw them as they called in flight high overhead against a cloudy autumn sky. I took some rather crappy, documentary images of them so I would remember when I first saw these large, white birds returning from their breeding grounds. I get just as excited about seeing them as most young children do about opening presents on Christmas morning because I am still a child at heart when it comes to birds and I hope that I always will be.
The flocks of Tundra Swans can make quite a racket, you can listen to them here.
Typically I see Tundra Swans at Salt Creek WMA, the marshes surrounding the Great Salt Lake, flying over the causeway to Antelope Island, Bear River MBR, and Farmington Bay WMA most often but it isn’t unusual for me to spot them flying high overhead when I am driving down the 1-15 Interstate either.
With cold fronts moving in it is indeed time for me to keep an eye on the sky for flocks of Tundra Swans migrating back into northern Utah and I will most certainly be listening for them now too.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Tundra Swan photos plus facts and information about this species.
The photo above was taken in February of 2011 as the swans flew over Farmington Bay WMA.
BEAUTIFUL! On my way to work, there’s a park with a flock of Canada Geese and they always seem to be circling in formation as I drive by. So much fun!
What a wonderful sight. The nearest I have come to that was here in Florida when a flock of Mute Swans flew over the wetlands. I tried to make them into something a bit more exotic but the photos did not lie!
WHAT a privilege to see and hear. Thank you.
Played the tape…WONDERFUL!!! Loved the wild sound of their music…It’s amazing that they can expend all that energy flying and still be able to call like that!!! How I would love to see and hear them!!! Thanks…
Thank you for always engaging my inner child Mia. We live close to the places you mentioned but never get out with my husband’s Parkinson’s. Love the sound. Thank you.
The Tundra Swans showed up in the upper Niagara River on Nov 1 in 2017 & Dec 8 in 2016. Other years have been mostly mid-way between these two extreme dates. I am looking forward to seeing and hearing them as well.
Thanks so much for including the sound!