Tundra Swan Day

Tundra Swan Day is my favorite event each year, not just for the Tundra Swans but because a lot of the spring migrants start coming in. This year the Swans started leaving early, a week ago there were 10,000 Tundra Swans at Farmington Bay yesterday and today there were between a hundred and two hundred.

Red-winged Blackbirds were singing everywhere

Always present are the American Coots

It has been a good year for Bald Eagles. Usually by this time there are very few if any Bald Eagles left. Today we saw at least 60.

Song Sparrows were very vocal, a welcome sound with the promise of spring.

Canada Geese paired up and establishing their territories for nesting

My friend Mike Johnson came along yesterday to take pictures

Common Mergansers

Great Blue Herons are busy working on their nests

For years I have been trying to get pictures of one of these little guys, this Long-tailed Weasel was very cooperative and posed like he know what he was doing.

Another great thing about Tundra Swan Day is the Chorus Frogs start signing. their sound is almost deafening 

These tiny frogs are very difficult to see, these are the first pictures I have ever gotten of them

The Sandhill Cranes are usually back by Swan Day this year they came even a little earlier. I saw my first of the year 2 weeks ago. Who is watching who in this picture?

So even if the Tundra Swans are few in numbers it is still one of the best events of the year and guaranteed not to disappoint