Tag Archives: Tundra Swans

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Mel Smith went to see if any of the beautiful white Tundra Swans had returned to the Garcia River area. He first looked at Hunter lagoon off of Biaggi Lane, and then at Brush Creek lagoon but found no Swans. The last big storm had washed away the sand, and drained the wetlands in both places, at least for now.

Mel then went to Hathaway Creek, which is found on the Point Arena-Stornetta Lands and found the fields flooded. There he saw four Tundra Swans, the first of many, we hope.

Here's a photo from a few years ago of two Tundra Swans in flight, taken by Anne Mary Schaefer.

In years past, there have been hundreds of these swans in the floodplains of the Garcia River. We hope more will return to overwinter on the southern Mendocino coast.

Thanks to Mel and Anne Mary for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Mel Smith recently counted 121 Tundra Swans near the Garcia River. He took this photo through his spotting scope. You will see Canada Geese too.

Tundra Swans and Canada Geese by Mel Smith

Martin Steinpress also saw and photographed Tundra Swans recently.

Three Tundra Swans and Mallards by Martin Steinpress Tundra Swans by Martin Steinpress

The past four years, during the drought, only a few Tundra Swans returned to overwinter on the Mendonoma coast. So we're happy to see more than a hundred, though that is still a small number compared to the numbers we used to see.

Here is a close-up look at these beautiful swans in flight, taken by Steve Wilcox.

Tundra Swans by Steve Wilcox

Thanks to Steve, Martin and Mel for allowing me to share their photos with you here.

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Tundra Swans, Cygnus columbianus, overwinter on the floodplains of the Garcia River. Last year, with our drier than normal winter, brought just a handful of these beautiful white swans. Eight were spotted last week. Richard Kuehn photographed four Tundra Swans in flight recently, always a thrilling sight.

We hope to have hundreds in residence soon. Thanks to Rich for allowing me to share his photo with you here.