Waterfowl and Cowbirds.....

Below the Heron Rookery and eagles's nest there is other activity going on in the water. Lots of Canada geese pairing off. I actually caught this pair as they were coming in for a landing.
Are there Hooded Mergansers? If so, they are new for me. That was my best guess from such a distant shot and looking at my Sibley guide.

The swans were hiding behind some low bushes most of the time, but right before we left, they came out for a swim and we got a few shots of them.

We drove to the other cornfield slough area where we have been watching the geese all winter and they have mostly gone away. They appear to be draining the field ready for planting.

There was still some water in this field and it was full of Shovelers.....maybe 20 pair.


Yesterday at home, I looked out to see a few Cowbirds and a dove eating some old seeds under the tree by the door.

There were 3-4 Brown-Headed Cowbird males.

I actually think they are rather pretty, but don't like to have large numbers of them hanging around.

A nice looking Cowbird female......much greyer.........

....and a "face only a mother could love"! Is this little fluff ball a young Cowbird? Or just a fat female with some sort of problem? What a fluffed up butterball! If it is a young one, who is the mother, since they lay their eggs in other bird's nests??

Here it opened its mouth and let some of the seed fall off or out.

Look at those side feathers sticking out!!

It certainly is a fat and fluffy one. Seems like the wrong time of year for a youngster.