Signs of a late spring are most conspicous by their absence.

Wildlife viewing biologist Bruce Bennett said today the above-average congregation of migrating trumpeter swans across the Southern Lakes suggests things are backed up further north.

Normally, he said, a daily count of 700 trumpeters at Swan Haven on M'Clintock Bay would be considered a large count, if not in the record category.

On Monday, however, there were 1,191 trumpeters at M'Clintock, suggesting the swans are camping out here longer than normal because there's limited access to open water further on, he said.

Bennett said it was the same situation last year when warmer temperatures down south sent the birds north earlier than usual, only to see them get stacked up in the Southern Lakes for a time.

On April 7 of last year, for instance, there were 2,432 trumpeters, or a record daily number counted from Swan Haven, he said.

But more than anything for Bennett, the lateness of this spring is in the sound of silence during the morning hours when there's normally a symphony of songbirds calling out.

"I mean, are you hearing any robins?” he said.

Bennett said he's not seen or heard any white-crowned sparrows, which are normally here much earlier than now.

"I've not seen one yet, and this is the latest ever,” he said. "The water birds are coming in regular numbers and many of the raptors are coming back in good strong numbers, but it is the forest birds that are missing.

"We should start to see the swallows coming back but there is still nothing.”

Sunday is the last day Swan Haven will be open.

In addition to the trumpeters counted Monday at M'Clintock Bay, there were 195 tundra swans, 700 mallards and 500 pintail ducks.

Bennett said it's difficult to gauge anything from the patterns in the migration of tundra swans because they often fly right over southern Yukon.