Common Goldeneye at Thomas Point

It might as well have been yesterday. More calm seas and bright light, with much more tolerable temps. I made the same circuit;Jonas Green and Thomas Point.
Some people have seen less common ducks at Jonas Green, but my only coup was a Hooded Merganser, which I haven’t seen there before.
Thomas Point was similar, but I did find a couple of ducks I don’t always see there.

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser at rest.

Canvasback

Canvasback

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Canvasback 59

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CanvasbackCanvasback

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

I’m getting to like Buffleheads.

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Ducks are growing on me as well.

Mallard

Mallards look good in flight.

Lesser  Scaup

Lesser  Scaup

Lesser  Scaup

Lesser Scaup are still in smaller numbers than last week.

Perfect Light and Calm Seas

It was cold this morning, but the skies were clear and wind was calm. I set out for Jonas Green around 7:00, then headed to Thomas Point. I really want to go to Blackwater, but there’s so much ice now the pickings would be slim.
I got lots of cooperation from many ducks.

Canvasback
Canvasback

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Canvasback

This unfortunate Canvasback has a fishhook embedded under his eye.

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

I spent a little more time on Buffleheads than usual.

Song Sparrow

This Song Sparrow is not a duck.

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Ducks are still out of the coves because of the ice.

Ring Billed Gull

I’m not sure what this Ring Billed Gull has found.

Red Breasted Merganser

Red Breasted Mergansers fly quickly and it’s tough to get a good flight shot.

Mallard

These Mallards found temporary refuge on the ice.

Lesser  Scaup

Lesser Scaup were outnumbered by Canvasbacks today.

Hooded Merganser

A small flock of Hooded Mergansers was paddling around the point.

Gull

These Gulls were very noisy.

Surf Scoters at Thomas Point

The weather was quite different today; windy and cold with gray skies. It was nice to see the Scoters come back, and the Canvasbacks have moved out of the coves, probably because of ice.
Not a great day, but a worthwhile trip.

Surf Scoter

Surf Scoter

Surf Scoter

Surf Scoter

Surf Scoters were present in good numbers.

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Billed Gulls often cruise quite close to shore looking for food.

Canvasback

The largest flocks of Canvasbacks are often hidden in the coves.

Bufflehead

Buffleheads are alway around, but not in large numbers.

Tundra Swan

Tundra Swans are also coming out of the coves.

Gadwall at Thomas Point

Another day in paradise. The weatherman was calling for cold and windy, but we got calm and only moderately cold. I started out at Jonas Green, which was very slow, then went to Thomas Point, where conditions were nearly perfect.
There was a great variety of birds and perfect light, which made for a very good morning.

Red Breasted Merganser 68Red Breasted Merganser

Tundra Swan 58

Tundra Swan 57Tundra Swan

Song Sparrow 69Song Sparrow

Ruddy Duck 43

Ruddy Duck 45

Ruddy Duck 42

Ruddy Duck 41Ruddy Duck

Ring Billed Gull 41Ring Billed Gull

Lesser  Scaup 117Lesser Scaup

Icicle 1Icicle

Hooded Merganser 88

Hooded Merganser 87

Hooded Merganser 86

Hooded Merganser 85

Hooded Merganser 84Hooded Merganser

Gadwall 9Gadwall

Common Goldeneye 50Common Goldeneye

Bufflehead 95

Bufflehead 94Bufflehead

Bald Eagle 256

Bald Eagle 255

Bald Eagle 254

Bald Eagle 253

Bald Eagle 252

Bald Eagle 251

Bald Eagle 250Bald Eagle

Redhead at Lake Artemesia

I could not have asked for better weather. By the time I met Graeme at Lake Artemesia, the Sun was trying to peek through the clouds and temps were rising rapidly.
We circled the lake a couple of times and found some nice birds, including a Redhead, which was a life bird for me.

Bufflehead

Bufflehead

There were only a few Buffleheads on the lake.


Redhead

Redhead

Redhead 4

Redhead

I was surprised to find these beautiful Redheads at the lake. A first for me.

Tundra Swan

Tundra Swan

Tundra Swan

These Tundra Swans are the subject of much discussion, as they closely resemble Trumpeter Swans.

American Coot

American Coot

American Coots are often very easy to photograph.


Ring Necked Duck

Ring Necked Duck

Ring Necked Duck

Ring Necked Duck

Lake Artemesia is a good place to find Ring Necked Ducks.

Canada Goose

Canada Goose

It’s hard to pass up a Canada Goose when they pose so well.

White Throated Sparrow

This White Throated Sparrow was one of the few small birds we saw.

Graeme Simpson

Graeme Simpson, hard at work.

Lake Artemesia

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy Duck 39Ruddy Duck

Ring Billed Gull

This Ring Billed Gull may have been sick or injured.

Bonaparte’s Gull at Thomas Point

Beautiful weather.
I decerded to go across the bridge today, and entered Terrapin Park about sunrise. There were lots of cold looking Canada Geese on the marsh pond, and I walked on to the end of the beach in search of the elusive Snowy Owl.
He wasn’t there, but I found a couple of Bald Eagles.
I then went to Thomas Point, where the pickings were quite slim.

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

Bald Eagle

It’s a good time of year for Bald Eagles.

Tundra Swan

These Tundra Swans flew overhead at Terrapin.

Ring Billed Gull

A Ring Billed Gull seemed to be sunbathing.

Bonaparte's Gull

Bonaparte's Gull

This is the first Bonaparte’s Gull I’ve seen at Thomas Point.

Mallard

A pair of Mallards in tandem.

Gull

Gull

This Gull was foraging successfully.

Bufflehead

A Bufflehead, landing gracefully.

Lesser  Scaup 116

Lesser  Scaup 115

Lesser  Scaup

Lesser Scaup are still easy to find.

Duck Feathers at Thomas Point

I’d say I’m fully recovered from my fall, and ready for longer forays soon.
Given the clouds and threat of snow this morning, I went back to Thomas Point to see if I could get some better images. It was really too cloudy for great shots, but I got a few decent pictures.

Lesser  Scaup
Lesser  Scaup 103

Lesser  Scaup 102

Lesser  Scaup 101

Herring Gull 7Herring Gull

Gull 11

Duck Feathers 2Some predator had a good breakfast.

Bufflehead 89Bufflehead

Black Scoter 9Black Scoter

Tundra Swan 55Tundra Swan

Truck 1My faithful Ranger

Surf Scoter 44

Surf Scoter 43

Surf Scoter 42

Surf Scoter 41

Surf Scoter 40

Surf Scoter 39

Surf Scoter 38

Surf Scoter 37

Surf Scoter 36

Surf Scoter 35

Surf Scoter 34

Surf Scoter 33

Surf Scoter 32

Surf Scoter 31Surf Scoter

SSC 1

Red Breasted Merganser 67

Red Breasted Merganser 66

Red Breasted Merganser 65Red Breasted Merganser

Lesser  Scaup 108Common Goldeneye

Lesser  Scaup 107

Lesser  Scaup 106

Lesser  Scaup 105

Lesser  Scaup 104Lesser Scaup