With winter coming to an end, soon these Tundra Swans will leave North Carolina to head north to their breeding grounds.
I have to admit that although I’m looking forward to the spectacle that spring migration provides, I’m kinda bummed that winter is over.
I’m in no mood for hot temperatures and the return of insects lol!

I spotted quite a few Tundra Swans last week in eastern NC. While many of them appear to have left the Pea Island NWR, there were still thousands to be found in the fields of the Pocosin Lakes NWR.
It was really neat to see such a huge flock together all in one place.

Tundra Swans nest in northern Alaska and in Canada’s Northwest Territories, Nunavut, northeastern Manitoba, northern Ontario, and northwestern Quebec.
Interestingly, Tundra Swans break off into 2 distinct groups of eastern and western migrating populations when traveling between breeding and wintering grounds.

Swans that nest east of Point Hope in the Coleville River region northern Alaska winter on the Atlantic coast (including these beauties shown here), while birds breeding from Point Hope south & west winter along the Pacific.
It seems odd for the birds in the Coleville River region of AK make such a long trip east which spans the entire United States when a flight due south/west to California is quite a bit closer.
Whatever the reason, I’m glad they make the trip south to visit us!
Though I’m sad to see them go I’ll be eagerly waiting for their return later this year.

Photos by @sally_siko of @birdwatching_nc on my beloved 50MP beast, the @canonusa #5Ds