We figured it was time to check up on the geese and ducks at the Henderson Slough. We've been told they are heading more towards Hovey Lake on our side of the river and that more were on their way up from down south. We'll have to make a trip to Hovey this next week.
As we turned onto the road headed to the slough I spotted a hawk on a pole. Just as we turned the corner....with traffic on our tail.....he dived to the ground to pounce on something. By the time we turned around and went back and slowed down....he flew back up on a pole. Not sure if he has the catch with him or not.
There was some recent rain, so enough water in the fields to make the ducks and geese happy. Any field with a puddle had a group of something in it. Here it was Mallards.
Some geese coming down into the cornfield.
This field was White-Fronted Geese and Canadas mixed.
The big flooded field where I had seen swans before now had ducks and we believe those are gulls on the far side.
The duck mixture were Mallards, Shovelers, and Pintails. Maybe a couple other things I wasn't sure about. I thought I saw Ring Necked in one photo and maybe Wigeons.
I'm so short I have trouble shooting over the grass at the edge of the field which is elevated from the road.
Mixture of ducks
Shovelers hanging out by themselves.
What are these 2 behind the Shoveler?? I see a white "spot" on the side, but can't find anything that seems to fit that? They look larger than the Shoveler. Maybe they are just Mallards.
I climbed one of the viewing platforms in this area and watched the geese landing.
Coming in!
Ready to touch down.
A large field was full of them with more coming in.
This water area was in front of the field I just showed. The view from the stand was pretty good!
I wasn't the only one watching them!
At another roadside puddle, Mike spotted these on his side of the car, so I handed over the camera :-) Snipes? Not a bird I know, but that seems to be what photos they look most like.
A pretty bird!
The two of them were happily feeding until I tried to get out of the car to get closer. Sigh...I should know better, but I get so anxious to see better! Must get binoculars for car. I always forget them.
As we turned onto the road headed to the slough I spotted a hawk on a pole. Just as we turned the corner....with traffic on our tail.....he dived to the ground to pounce on something. By the time we turned around and went back and slowed down....he flew back up on a pole. Not sure if he has the catch with him or not.
There was some recent rain, so enough water in the fields to make the ducks and geese happy. Any field with a puddle had a group of something in it. Here it was Mallards.
Some geese coming down into the cornfield.
This field was White-Fronted Geese and Canadas mixed.
The big flooded field where I had seen swans before now had ducks and we believe those are gulls on the far side.
The duck mixture were Mallards, Shovelers, and Pintails. Maybe a couple other things I wasn't sure about. I thought I saw Ring Necked in one photo and maybe Wigeons.I'm so short I have trouble shooting over the grass at the edge of the field which is elevated from the road.
Mixture of ducks
Shovelers hanging out by themselves.
What are these 2 behind the Shoveler?? I see a white "spot" on the side, but can't find anything that seems to fit that? They look larger than the Shoveler. Maybe they are just Mallards.
I climbed one of the viewing platforms in this area and watched the geese landing.
Coming in!
Ready to touch down.
A large field was full of them with more coming in.
This water area was in front of the field I just showed. The view from the stand was pretty good!
I wasn't the only one watching them!
At another roadside puddle, Mike spotted these on his side of the car, so I handed over the camera :-) Snipes? Not a bird I know, but that seems to be what photos they look most like.
A pretty bird!
The two of them were happily feeding until I tried to get out of the car to get closer. Sigh...I should know better, but I get so anxious to see better! Must get binoculars for car. I always forget them.That was our day in Henderson! I'll always be grateful to the friend of Mike's who told us about this place and intend to visit every year at migration time.
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20 comments:
It sounds and looks like a great day Mary. A pity you missed out on the hawk cating its food but that is how it always goes.
I tried to leave comments earlier, but all you blogs were gone and just the sidebar was there so I am glad it is back again.
Hi Mary,
another great trip. The ducks you are unsure of are Gadwall. Nice find, you are doing great a determining that what you have is something different! Good eye. Your other bird is looks like a Wislon's Snipe. I can't be 100% here. We get common snipe and they are one of my favorites. They are a bird more heard than seen. Their call is somewhwat woodpecker like but the wing beat is what I wait for each spring. See if you can find that on the internet somewhere, I'm sure you've heard it before.
The mysterious bird looks like some kind of sandpiper to me. Love the shots and I can't get over how many ducks and geese you saw!
Joan: Thanks! I've had that happen to me a couple times with the blog, too.
Eve: Thanks! I thought it looked like the picture of the Wilson's Snipe, but since I don't know snipes...I didn't want to guess. I'm amazed you can tell they are Gadwalls in that distant photo! I must remember my binoculars next time and study everything more closely. I get so excited about taking photos, I forget everything else. This area with its huge variety is such a cool place to go!
Kallen: thanks! this area is a protected area for the waterfowl and they seem to know it!
So many different birds flying in all at once makes this look like a visual orchestra of early spring against a muted winter background.
You have duck heaven over there by you!! Nice to see! Enjoyed the flight photos especially!
Country Dreaming:They do really flock to this place and its wonderful seeing all of them.
Shelley: Thanks! I'm not very good at catching flight shots. Takes me forever to find them and focus.
Wow Mary... You are lucky to live near the Henderson Slough... Anyime you want some great bird pictures, you can just go there. Amazing!!!
Thanks!
Hugs,
Betsy
Nice post. I can't help with any ids, I am so new to ducks. I did see my first Shovelers (along with several others I had never seen) while in Flordia. When I get through all this photos I am sure I will be posting some.
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I think Wilson's Snipes too. Had 4 hanging around last fall at the creek at work. Had a chance to visit with them for a couple of weeks before they disappeared~
I sure wish we had someplace like this to visit Mary. Everything here is frozen solid again. Even the creek that I took shots of the Mergansers yesterday has floating ice in it again.
Could that mistery pair with the Shoveler be Gadwalls?
Have a wonderful day. We've got 14ยบ, wind and another 4" of snow last night. sigh.....:(
That is a great place to have nearby Mary. So much going on! I agree with Evie's ID's.
It is god news that migration is starting.It will be a little while before we see most of these birds here.It is good to see your pictures.
Blessings,Ruth
Wow, you definitely seen more geese than we have been seeing here. I want to remember to check out Henderson slough.
Did you see my blog the other day with the sandhill cranes...we went up to Jasper-Pulaski Wildlife area last week and it was awesome...I wanted to tell you if you ever get the chance to do. It is in the migratory route of the cranes...I think more stop in the spring than in the fall if I am remembering correctly.
Anyway, I decided I had rather go back up there as to go to the quilt show...but don't think I am going to get to do either one. Roger came down with a flu bug Saturday and is sure taking time to get over it. I am staying away from Sarah and her baby--I don't want to be the one to carry something in to them.
I will let you know if something changes abut the quilt show...I am only about an hour northwest of it...I live just above Terre Haute.
BTW, I have a little something for you at my blog.
Mary, good call on the snipes. The Wilson's was recently seperated out as a seperate species from the Common Snipe of Eurasia according to "All About Birds." We used to call ours a Common Snipe but apparently the common has more tail feathers and a slightly different pattern to it's body. I agree with the Gadwall ID. It's what I thought when I first saw the photo and then I checked my bird guides. The male Gadwall has a black rump with that small white patch in front. Otherwise they are pretty plain looking but I like them. What a great place to visit! Looks like you had a very rich experience this day!
Betsy: Henderson is just across the Ohio River from Evansville, so it is a nice place to go now that we know about it!
Leedra: I'm just beginning to learn a lot of the ducks and find it very interesting!
Linda: Thanks! Glad everyone thinks it is a Wilson's Snipe since that is a new bird for me.
Becky: Several of you think Gadwalls, so that must be it! Another new one for me.
Jenny: Thanks! Two new birds in one day as well as a lot of great geese!
Rose: Thanks for the award! Will check your cranes if I missed them. Jasper Pulaski sounds good...will have to check it out.
Kathie: I think that snipe is pretty and hope to see it again! These ducks aren't as friendly as the ones we saw in Tucson...no close-ups :-) It was a good day, for sure.
Ruth: Almost missed your comment! Thanks! I'm glad this area is popular with the migrating birds. I hope to see a lot more.
Another great day out Mary.
Roy: I love birding then the birds are in such large numbers :-) I'm bound to get at least a few of them right!
I'm impressed with the pictures you got on your outing. Henderson Slough must be a great place to visit almost any time of the year.
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