Interesting Day On The Crappie Dock

[laker67]

With the lake level coming up the past 2 days, I decided to hit the crappie dock around 7 this am. The water must be up a good 2 feet from the weekend. Started deep around my artifical {pvc} tree. "BAM", as Leonard would say. I was hoping that I was into another walleye like I caught last week, but, it turned out to be a very nice keeper bass. I admired the fish and turned him back. Threw back across the tree and let it fall to the bottom, "BAM" again, this time about a 3 pound drum. Drum are the worst fish for running crappie out of an area, so I have been told. Not to take any chances, he ended up as buzzard bait. Returned to the "tree" and caught 3 keeper crappie in a row. As I am standing there, I observed a large white bird coming up the lake just about 4 foot off the water. I first thought it could be one of the white pelicans we saw earlier in the week. As it gets closer, I hear this continuous honk, honk, honk. As it flew by, it's neck was stretched out like a goose, and feet straight out the back like a blue heron. I have no idea what it was, other than it was very large. Some kind of swan or crane, I would think. Anyway had to go run some errands with the fish biting. Came back around 1 o'clock and finished out my limit and got to observe a golden eagle cruising the lake. This morning the fish were deep, 16 to 18 feet. This afternoon, they were suspended anywhere from 4 to 10. Just a real interesting day and caught some fish to boot.

[fishinwrench]

This guy? He's an Egret

[laker67]

This guy? He's an Egret

Hi FW. No, I know egrets. This guy was huge.

[Outside Bend]

Probably a swan, there have been a few around Eagle Bluffs this winter.-

[laker67]

Probably a swan, there have been a few around Eagle Bluffs this winter.-

[/quote

Hi OB. After I saw that it was not the pelican, my first guess would be swan. I was hoping that the honking noise might be a clue. I am sure it made the honk on every sweeping wing beat.

[WHARFRAT]

Rarely do you see a swan by itself. They to sort of honk like a Canada Goose, except it is a much lower, scratchier tone, and usually no where near as loud. They do fly with their feet straight back. Their feet and their bill are black and stand out quite a bit from its snowy white body. I've been observing swans for that last couple of years here around St. Louis and I have yet to see one flying by itself, unless someone made a big mistake if you know what I mean.

[laker67]

Rarely do you see a swan by itself. They to sort of honk like a Canada Goose, except it is a much lower, scratchier tone, and usually no where near as loud. They do fly with their feet straight back. Their feet and their bill are black and stand out quite a bit from its snowy white body. I've been observing swans for that last couple of years here around St. Louis and I have yet to see one flying by itself, unless someone made a big mistake if you know what I mean.

The sound you described fits it perfectly. Can't say for sure if the feet and bill were black.

[fishinwrench]

Swans don't have those long marsh-bird legs, do they?

When you say "big" do you mean big in the body.... or huge wingspan? Sometimes birds look enormous when in flight, but after they land and fold their wings in the mass shrinks alot.

If not a crane/egret/flamingo I cant imagine what else it could have been.

We had several pelicans early (October) in the Gravi, but they seem to be gone now, prolly be back in Feb. They fly eith their necks tucked in though, and dont have those stilt legs. Hmmm

[laker67]

Swans don't have those long marsh-bird legs, do they?

When you say "big" do you mean big in the body.... or huge wingspan? Sometimes birds look enormous when in flight, but after they land and fold their wings in the mass shrinks alot.

If not a crane/egret/flamingo I cant imagine what else it could have been.

We had several pelicans early (October) in the Gravi, but they seem to be gone now, prolly be back in Feb. They fly eith their necks tucked in though, and dont have those stilt legs. Hmmm

Body appeared to be big, but the like you say, wingspan may have made it look bigger. We had the pelicans up to this previous week here at owens point. Tried the crappie again this morning with little successs. The lake appears to almost full with lots of shoreline debris floating.

[Bill Jr.]

I'm pretty sure it was a white trumpeter swan. My brother saw a few last week duck hunting. He said they had a huge wingspan. Hopefully i can attach this picture showing one in flight with it's feet trailing behind.