Today was a busy day - we left early to stop and pick up one color of yarn I needed for a craft project - then on the road, to the butcher in Stanwood (about an hour south of here), then lunch with friends and a good shopping at a big thrift store in Stanwood. (More about the thrift store another day).
We picked up our order from the butcher (we go about every 6 months), had a great lunch at an old fashioned cafe with old fashioned prices and absolutely delicious food - and then after the thrift shop we all headed home. We took the back roads - looking for Snow Geese and Trumpeter Swans - and for a long time we didn't see any - then just before we got to Bow and Edison we saw some circling - ready to land. A quick turn down a narrow road - and there they were. A very small flock - well actually two very small flocks - one of Snow Geese and one of Trumpeter Swans - mixed together.
The Snow Geese will fly up and land again - over and over. They are in a plowed over corn field - eating what they can find there.
It was a cloudy day, but they still showed up against the gray clouds. They have beautiful black tips on their wings
Coming in for a landing
The black feathers on their wings look like fingers
Look out below!
A little fuzzy - but I love the position of the wings and feet as he prepares to land.
Mixed in with the Snow Geese are Trumpeter Swans - which are much larger. The brown on the face of the swan is from contact with ferrous minerals in the soil .
Stretching their wings - the wingspread of a Trumpeter Swan can reach up to 8 feet and the average male weighs 26 pounds, average female 22 pounds. Compared to the smaller Snow Geese, which weigh 3 to 7 pounds, with a wingspread of 4.5 feet
The Trumpeter Swans don't fly as often as the Snow Geese - but they are majestic when they fly
Stretching
Taking off
And just down the road - was a hawk on a pole
What a day!
Wild birds galore! I saw a couple of vees of Canada Geese heading south today. I thought they were leaving things a little late, myself.
ReplyDeleteReally interesting to see the geese and swans together - thanks for all the great info on them!
ReplyDeleteSo very peaceful, lucky you to see them.
ReplyDeletedumb-foundingly gorgeous shots-oh my goodness this must have spectacular to been right there...
ReplyDeleteOh, fantastic pictures!
ReplyDelete"What a day!" Absolutely! You have a beautiful collection here, but my favorite might be yours too - the "fuzzy" one that shows that little guy/lady knowing exactly how to angle his/her feet and wings for the perfect landing! So sweet!
ReplyDeleteSo very beautiful, Jo. Thank you for sharing this with us. I adore swans.
ReplyDeletexoxox
Sheila
It is about time for our winter visitors to be arriving. I wish I were as good with a camera.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, JoAnn! I love to see snow geese and to see the trumpeter swans must have been amazing! The snow geese are so pretty with their black feet and wing tips. The details on the hawk photos are wonderful, too. You always see the most amazing things on your little drives! Hugs, xoxo
ReplyDeleteLove that last photo of the hawk!
ReplyDelete