Tundra Like Weather
Mourning Dove waiting for the Ice Storm
They are predicting a 1/2 inch of ice by morning and we are already starting to see some mixed perception coming down. If we do get the predicted ice storm . . . expect my power and phone lines to be out (with no internet)! Ugg, lets hope the weather man is wrong! ! Today I heard some very familiar trumpet like calls “klooo . . . kwooo . . .” and I knew it was only a matter of time till these guys started pushing through the area (my first for 2008 – CHECK)!
Tundra Swans on the Ice!
I located these swans out in the middle of Red House Lake and boy were they making a ruckus. It didn’t take them long before getting settled down, started preening their feathers and then tucked their heads under their wing (started sleeping). My guess is that these were some extremely exhausted birds after migrating all day and night yesterday. I saw a larger flock of Tundra’s following the Allegheny River about an hour later and they seemed to be trying to push through the storm. I would anticipate that for the next month they will continue pushing through the area . . . . so expect some more photos here soon!
Tundra Swans Sleeping
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That is good to be able to get another year bird marked off! I want to get out and do some birding soon. Great pictures and sound clip!!!
4 March 2008 at 4:19 pm
Interesting you’re getting that weather – we had nearly 70-degree temps here today!
4 March 2008 at 6:39 pm
Those Tundra Swans are so beautiful out there on the ice.
I saw a chipmunk yesterday. I haven’t seen him all winter. Good sign.
4 March 2008 at 6:54 pm
OH…I hope those swans don’t get iced in!
We had some ice here this afternoon and it made for some very slippery roads.
Be safe!
4 March 2008 at 7:08 pm
That’s great! I would have had to drive 50 miles in Connecticut just to see one!
4 March 2008 at 7:31 pm
We are booked with the same storm, but are expecting snow rather than ice. I would love to see those swans. What do they eat when things are frozen over? I really cannot complain about the weather as I don’t have to sleep on ice.
4 March 2008 at 7:50 pm
brrrrrr those swans look so cold.
4 March 2008 at 7:51 pm
I am inClevelnd this week and it has been doing that all day. There was a lot of ice on cars and side walks but not much on power lines and trees. It will depend on how cold you get or not. Good Luck
4 March 2008 at 8:09 pm
@ YN – J – thanks and soon you will be hearing my checks most every day!
@ Marty – we had that yesterday . . this is what you can expect tomorrow! BTW: Congrats on not making my spam filter for once!
@ Linda – thanks and a chipmunk already? WOW
@ Sherry – they will be fine and will probably take off first thing in the morning!
@ Lvn – we see them by the hundreds during March!
@ Ruth – I am afraid to see what will happen in the overnight! Ugg!
@ Lisa – they are always pushing through early!
@ Mike – thanks and I am afraid how our ice will look! Lets hope not as bad as they are saying!
4 March 2008 at 8:24 pm
Our ice storm was pretty rough. We have had limbs and trees down all over town. And many people are out of power all over town, we were lucky our power stayed on.
Great picture of the Mourning Dove.
~nita~
4 March 2008 at 10:53 pm
The Mourning Dove shot is awesome Tom, it really came out well, very nice work 🙂
4 March 2008 at 11:26 pm
I liked these shots – I’d love to get a swan shot and have been looking for them as of late. I’m glad you provided a sound to follow that will be so helpful. Great post!
5 March 2008 at 2:37 am
Be careful on the swan ID, there were 2 Trumpeters to your south – a banded adult and an unbanded immature.
There were 4 on the ice all day at Kinzua Dam, I love swans!
5 March 2008 at 5:57 am
I hope the weatherman is wrong, too. Snowstorms are inconvenient but ice storms are downright dangerous. Be careful!
Love the swans…
5 March 2008 at 6:12 am
@ Nita – I am afraid to look outside! Ugg Lucky I have power this morning!
@ Bernie – thanks
@ aullori – they are on the move and you should be able to find them in the great lakes anytime now!
@ John – I am quite sure these are all tundra’s! And they have been moving fast through the area! If there were some out of the heavy movement time . . I would be in a little more question of it! But, we do check for size! Thanks
@ Mary – isn’t it funny that at times we do wish they are wrong? Thanks
5 March 2008 at 7:21 am
I love the horizontal lines in the first photo. Really nice.
5 March 2008 at 10:10 am
What an awesome sighting! Great photos…
5 March 2008 at 4:36 pm
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Tundra Swans before. Thanks for the introduction to these lovely birds.
5 March 2008 at 6:54 pm
I love Tundras-you’ve got lots, and lots!
6 March 2008 at 10:46 am
@ Barb – thanks
@ threecollie – thanks
@ Bobbie – they are great swans and can be easily missed !
@ Marg – thanks and had more today flying but way up high in the sky!
6 March 2008 at 8:34 pm
Sleeping swans, nice. I loooove the dove, that pic is pure magic 🙂
7 March 2008 at 3:40 pm
Had to follow your dove photo to Flickr so I could fave it!
Swans always earn a 🙂
11 March 2008 at 11:28 pm
You can have it!! I’ve had my share of ice for the season. I feel so sorry for the birds when the ice builds on their wings, it makes it difficult for them. The Tundra Swans are beautiful, cool to hear them too. Thanks!
12 March 2008 at 8:58 pm