Goodbye, Tundra Swans
The Tundra Swans have mostly departed the Chesapeake Bay region, on their way back home to breed on the Arctic tundra.
My last sighting was March 10th out in my backyard no less, with a fly-over.
Without knowing they were coming, four Tundra Swans flew low over my head. They must have taken off from the cove.
Tundra Swans
Hearing the powerful flapping of four 66.1 inch (168 cm) wingspans, I was wow’ing that close encounter; when I heard a loud squawking. A fifth Tundra Swan passed low right by me! It was definitely on mission to catch the others.
By the way, the swan did catch up, yay!
Something about their graceful, powerful elegance. Just love them and will miss them until next winter.
Bay Photos by Donna 
In early March we had tundra swans fly over Bladensburg Waterfront Park and even our yard in NE DC (twice!). In 6 years of living here i had not had the pleasure of seeing a single tundra swan – so seeing a couple hundred was a treat!
They are quite cool! Tundra Swans are migrating further and further down, into Virginia and the Carolinas now. And the Potomac River has great sightings of them in coves. Looks like Kenilworth Park hosted some over the winter too!
Amazing, especially that last lone swan. 😊
I can still hear that lone swan go by! 😊
Beautiful images, Donna. It’s bittersweet when they leave isn’t it.
Thank you, Deborah, yes it is.
Maybe the fifth swan would have wanted to stay. 🙂
I’d love for it to have stayed on the pond in my backyard all year long! 😉
I love those close fly-bys!
Thanks, me too!
Beautiful!
Thank you!
Nice shots, Donna.
Thank you, Michael!
You’re welcome, Donna.
A great shot of the formation fliers. I am glad that the straggler caught them up.
Thank you, Tom, me too!
Yes what beautiful and elegant birds Donna and what wonderful captures my friend !
Thank you, Ashley!
Stunning birds, what an awesome encounter! 👏🏼
Thank you, Eliza!
Well you lucked out with that straggler Donna, but it was nice seeing the others as well. Does the wing flapping make the same kind of humming noise as Mute Swans or Trumpeter Swans? I never hear they vocalize, like geese do in flight, but I hear the humming of their wings which causes me to look upward.
Yes I did, it was awesome! Yes, same strong whoosh, whoosh, you can hear the power of those wings. Amazing they can even get up and out of the water!!
That’s good to know – I hear them overhead, but they move so quickly, they’re usually gone by the time I get a photo. I’ve never seen more than two swans flying together. Yes, those wings are so powerful and they are so graceful (well, except for those big feet, but those feet help them skid to a stop on the water gracefully).
Missed the Tundras this year…well the winter months, hoping they come that close to me upon their return later in the year.
Fingers crossed!
Oh, Donna. This is wonderful the fifth flew lower and you got it beautifully in your sights. Gorgeous post!
Thank you, Sandy! Hearing those big wings ‘whoosh’ right past me was incredible!