A very, very "ducky" day....

We went to Henderson to check on the Snow Geese and look for ducks and we certainly found plenty of ducks! I don't see many ducks other than Mallards and I had no idea just how many we had seen or what they were until we got back home and I downloaded the photos and looked them up. I still have a couple so-so photos that I think may contain other types that I haven't figured out yet. I know for sure we saw a total of 8 different kinds of ducks! We started out at a field that was partly flooded that had geese and ducks both. The geese were almost all Canadas, but I can see one White-Fronted in this photo as well.

A bunch coming in for landing.


At the very back of this photo in the water are at least two Shoveler Ducks. I didn't see any others of those. The ducks in front of them are unknowns and not easy enough to see.
(Jenny says those are Teals in front of the Shovelers.)

Mostly Mallards.....but one Pintail right in the front.

Several Pintails....male and female.

This is a terrible shot, but the one in front is a Pintail and the one in back is an American Wigeon. I sure hope I get all of these correct, since I had to look up most of them!

Scaups.....don't ask me which one!

Scaup and Redhead

Redheads....poor photo but the color shows better.

Ring-Necked Ducks

3 male Canvasbacks following a female
Canvasback, Redhead, Scaup, and Mallard!

This one is hard to see, but in this "sea of Mallards" are a female and several male American Wigeons. The female is following some Mallards on the left front and the male is towards the right rear. (Jenny spotted a Gadwall in this shot...on the right side)

Mike spotted this one lone Snow Goose in a field all by itself. I fear there must be something wrong with it that it is hanging around all alone when the rest are gone.

I think it looks like the wings have some sort of problem.

They look "crossed" or something. I wonder if one wing is broken. I hope not. I always feel helpless when I see a bird with a problem.

When we got back home, I checked for my own ducks. We have a pair of Mallards staying on our lake right now. Here the female is cruising while I put out a bit of cracked corn on the edge of the lake.

The male was out there, too.

Well....that was more ducks that I've ever seen in one day....at least more kinds!

At home shots....

Didn't go anywhere for bird watching yesterday, but the home birds were there as always. My one....just one....clump of Snowdrops! I keep hoping for them to open a bit more, but took a photo anyway. If you want to see really pretty ones, go to Roy's Fenlandwalker Birding and Countryside Blog.
The Bluebird and the Wren checking out the blue dish.
"This is a mealworm feeder......I don't see any mealworms."

"Suet is 'nice', but I'd rather have mealworms!"

"Sigh......maybe she'll buy some tomorrow?"

If the Bluebirds stick around, I suppose I will have to check into buying mealworms. They were showing interest in the Bluebird house and even chased away a Titmouse, but later I saw a pair of House Sparrows claiming it as theirs (Boo!) I don't know what to do to discourage the House Sparrows from moving in. The male was being very territorial and guarding it. If we didn't already have a huge House Sparrow population, I wouldn't mind, but I really want the Bluebirds to use it!

The neighbor's yard was bursting with Robins on Sunday.

My Brown Creeper is still around! I keep trying to get a better shot. I took these with the front door standing open, but when I tried to get a little closer, it flew away.

I really want to see more of this bird. It is fun to watch it going up and down the tree.

You all know about my dead Dogwood tree that I disguise with a vine growing over it. The Downy female was looking for bugs in the dead tree. You can see that it is losing a lot of bark in spots.

I didn't realize I caught this Towhee with his tail fanned out until I looked on the computer. He must have been getting ready to move.

They jump around so much I have trouble getting good shots. This is the male and it looks like he found a good seed in the mess by the front door.

Most of my Towhee shots seem to look like this....the backside. However, notice those hopeful shoots next to him! Spring is trying to spring!

Wren with a twist :-) Another bird helping to clean up the mess from all the seeds I threw on top of the snow when it was there.

In the field, in the park, in the yard.....

These photos are from a variety of sites, as the title says. We spotted a Northern Harrier systematically swooping over a field so we stopped to watch him. He actually kept getting a bit closer as he hunted, so I got some shots, even though they were very distant still.
I really love to watch them. They stay low to the ground and very intent on what is below them.

I was thrilled to get this "feet down" shot even if it is a bit far away. He blends so well with his surroundings, that if it wasn't for that white rump, he would be really hard to see.

Starting to head towards the trees. Even when he got to the trees, his white rump still gave his location away and helped me keep track of him.

Back at home, I watched a White Breasted Nuthatch and the other feeder birds for a bit.

Nuthatch way up in the Ash tree. I was just reading today about the Ash Borers that are making there way through our state destroying ash trees, so I had better enjoy my Ash while I have it. I would really miss this tree and so would the birds. I hope they somehow miss our county, but don't imagine that is going to happen.

Mr. Cardinal picking through the seed mess.

Song Sparrow doing the same.

This shot of his back reminds me a little of .......
.....this Sycamore bark. I was taking photos of different textures and patterns

The Mulberry with the large burls down by the creek always catches my eye.

A limb on the ground covered with really nice fungi.

A Cattail we saw at the park.

The neighbor's house reflected in the lake. I was noting the receding ice...yeah!

The last few days have been in the 40's so things are looking up a bit!

The wetlands....

Last weeks visit to the wetlands.This heron hangs around on most days when the weather is nice. I think it has gotten used to seeing people cross the boardwalk and doesn't fly away.
Here he is ducking under when he saw us coming, but then he just went and stood at the edge pretending he was part of the grasses :-)

Stalking the edge

Wrapped up out of the wind. I always think their long feathers make them look like they wearing a cloak when they stand like this.

Stars on the water :-)

On the creek there were only two turtles out warming up a bit.

3-4 pair of Mallards were swimming around.

Two pair of Canada Geese were cruising around.

The one in the back seems to have an "odd" bill. Anyone know why or what?

This pair was feeling "frisky" and mated at least twice while we were there.

The male showing off.

The other pair were diving and turning somersaults.