{"id":100136,"date":"2022-02-21T06:21:55","date_gmt":"2022-02-21T13:21:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=100136"},"modified":"2026-02-10T16:42:17","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T22:42:17","slug":"trumpeter-swan-photos-from-bear-river-mbr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/02\/21\/trumpeter-swan-photos-from-bear-river-mbr\/","title":{"rendered":"Trumpeter Swan Photos From Bear River MBR"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I was at Bear River MBR<\/span><\/a> two days ago I was excited to be able to take a nice series of Trumpeter Swan photos on the west side of the auto tour loop.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Trumpeter Swan in the marsh at Bear River MBR \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

This Trumpeter Swan was associating with a couple of Tundra Swans. Because I know that Trumpeter Swans are larger than Tundra Swans my eyes were drawn to the largest swan immediately.<\/p>\n

\"TrumpeterTrumpeter Swan adult back view \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Trumpeter Swans are not as common at Bear River MBR as Tundra Swans are so I kept this swan in my viewfinder most of the time.<\/p>\n

\"TundraTundra Swan adult standing tall on ice \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/2500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

This photo shows one of the Tundra Swans that the Trumpeter Swan that I photographed was hanging out with.<\/p>\n

The last time I saw Trumpeter Swans at the refuge was just nine days prior to when I photographed these swans. I couldn’t get photos of the two Trumpeter Swans I found that day because I had a thick curtain of marsh vegetation between me and those birds. These Trumpeter Swan photos more than made up for that.<\/p>\n

The last time I actually photographed a Trumpeter Swan at the refuge was when I found an injured Trumpeter Swan that I wasn’t able to rescue<\/span><\/a> in November of 2019. I still think about that bird and and feel a keen sense of sadness that I was unable to rescue the swan.<\/p>\n

\"CallingCalling Trumpeter Swan getting ready to lift off \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

When all four of the swans began to act as if they were going to take off and leave the area I kept my eye on the larger Trumpeter. The Trumpeter Swan called<\/span><\/a> along with the Tundra Swans as they all started running to lift off.<\/p>\n

\"AdultAdult Trumpeter Swan lifting off from the marsh at Bear River MBR \u2013 Nikon D500, f8, 1\/2000, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I had removed my 1.4x teleconverter before I started photographing the swans but I will still concerned about not being able to get photos of the larger Trumpeter Swan without clipping the wings or feet of the swan. I did clip a few wing tips when the Trumpeter Swan lifted off but I was able to take some frame filling images of it where I didn’t. That made me very happy.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good. Paying attention and knowing<\/em> birds can make it even better.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Even though it is still dark outside my living room window I can see that there is a dusting of snow on the ground today. It isn’t going to amount to much but we need all<\/em> the moisture we can get right now and through spring.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Trumpeter Swan photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here<\/a><\/span> to see more of my Tundra Swan photos plus facts and information about this species.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I was at Bear River MBR two days ago I was excited to be able to take a nice series of Trumpeter Swan photos on the west side of the auto tour loop.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":121553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[124,163,27,1148,227,158,26],"tags":[4004,5180,4007,4008,4072,2672,4431,4064,4282,4944,4094,4059,6428,4628,3122,3792,5428,2671,2117,30,6917,3996,2063,4095,373],"class_list":["post-100136","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","category-bird-identification","category-avian","category-box-elder-county-utah","category-trumpeter-swans","category-tundra-swans","category-utah","tag-adult","tag-back-view","tag-bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge","tag-box-elder-county","tag-calling","tag-cygnus-buccinator","tag-cygnus-columbianus","tag-ice","tag-lift-off","tag-lifting-off","tag-marsh","tag-phragmites","tag-phrags","tag-swan","tag-swans","tag-take-off","tag-taking-off","tag-trumpeter-swan","tag-tundra-swan","tag-utah-2","tag-vegetation","tag-water","tag-waterfowl","tag-wetlands","tag-winter"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/trumpeter-swan-brmbr-mia-mcpherson-4392.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-q36","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":121635,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/02\/21\/tundra-swan-trumpeter-swan-comparison\/","url_meta":{"origin":100136,"position":0},"title":"Tundra Swan – Trumpeter Swan Comparison","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 21, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"I hope this comparison helps anyone who might be struggling with Trumpeter Swan and Tundra Swan identification in the field or when they are looking at their own photos.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tundra Swan and Trumpeter Swan portrait composite image, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/trumpeter-and-tundra-swan-comparison-mia-mcpherson-4374.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/trumpeter-and-tundra-swan-comparison-mia-mcpherson-4374.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/trumpeter-and-tundra-swan-comparison-mia-mcpherson-4374.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/trumpeter-and-tundra-swan-comparison-mia-mcpherson-4374.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":108733,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/12\/14\/birds-on-ice-in-northern-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":100136,"position":1},"title":"Birds On Ice In Northern Utah","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 14, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I'm sharing photos of five bird species that I find on ice during the coldest months of the year in marsh and urban locations.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tundra Swan and shadow on ice, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tundra-swan-adult-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-4347.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/tundra-swan-adult-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-4347.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, 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Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tundra-swan-portrait-utah-mia-mcpherson-4922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tundra-swan-portrait-utah-mia-mcpherson-4922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tundra-swan-portrait-utah-mia-mcpherson-4922.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/tundra-swan-portrait-utah-mia-mcpherson-4922.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":123293,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2024\/03\/09\/today-is-utahs-swan-day-for-2024\/","url_meta":{"origin":100136,"position":3},"title":"Today Is Utah’s Swan Day For 2024","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 9, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Today is March 9th, and it is Utah's Swan Day 2024! The Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge auto tour loop is a terrific place to see these lovely white swans.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Winter Tundra Swan portrait, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swan-solitary-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-4967.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swan-solitary-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-4967.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swan-solitary-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-4967.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swan-solitary-on-ice-mia-mcpherson-4967.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":80995,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/03\/11\/swan-day-in-utah\/","url_meta":{"origin":100136,"position":4},"title":"Swan Day in Utah – March 13, 2021","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"March 11, 2021","format":"chat","excerpt":"This Saturday, March 13th, is Swan Day here in Utah. It is a day to celebrate these large, white, beautiful birds that spend time here during the winter.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Tundra Swans and winter sky, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swans-flight-cloudy-sky-mia-mcpherson-8371.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swans-flight-cloudy-sky-mia-mcpherson-8371.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swans-flight-cloudy-sky-mia-mcpherson-8371.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/tundra-swans-flight-cloudy-sky-mia-mcpherson-8371.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":110083,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/02\/07\/bear-river-mbr-winter-haven-for-tundra-swans\/","url_meta":{"origin":100136,"position":5},"title":"Bear River MBR: Winter Haven For Tundra Swans","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"February 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"I had hoped that this morning would be sunny so I could head to Bear River MBR to see, listen to, and photograph Tundra Swans on the marshes.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Adult and immature Tundra Swans in morning flight, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Box Elder County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/tundra-swans-adult-immature-flight-marsh-mia-mcpherson-0177.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/tundra-swans-adult-immature-flight-marsh-mia-mcpherson-0177.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/tundra-swans-adult-immature-flight-marsh-mia-mcpherson-0177.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/tundra-swans-adult-immature-flight-marsh-mia-mcpherson-0177.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100136","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100136"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/100136\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121553"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100136"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=100136"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=100136"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}