Trip to Henderson.....

We keep looking for the large masses of Snow Geese and White-Front Geese that are usually here this time of year over in Henderson, KY.  We went one day this past week to check on them.

Being a holiday there were scads of hunters out in the fields around the preserve area.  I think it was spooking the geese.  We saw this one flurry of them rise up out of the corn way back off the road where I couldn't see them well or take good photos.  That was the largest group we saw.  I don't know if our unseasonably warm weather is making a difference in the numbers or if they just took a different route this year, but so far we have not seen the large numbers we usually see.  We'll keep checking on them at least once a week.

Looking at the water here, you can tell the Snow Geese have been there....little white feathers everywhere!  We saw this pair of Shovelers, and that duck behind them, I think, is a Gadwall after consulting with my blogging buddies who know ducks better than I do.

Another shot of them shoveling away for food.

The Shovelers were fairly close to the road in one of the flooded fields and there were several pair.

The female Shoveler

We also saw Mallards and Coots.

The "Coot Armada" swimming away from me when we stopped the car.

This Coot dug up a tasty plant to eat.

Hiding in the high grass

Picking along the edges of the water.  I was hoping for a shot of their big feet :-)

We saw several swarms of Red-wing Blackbirds in the fields.  Not a great shot but it gives you an idea of the numbers.

Our temps are so warm at the moment that I saw daffodil greens poking up already!  Not a good thing....much too early.  I assume this warmer spell won't last.

********

When not out looking for birds I have been doing a lot of quilting.  Just finished all the squares for this scrappy quilt top.  Still have to decide if it gets some borders or more squares to make it a bit larger.  I love working with all the bright colors in the wintertime.