Black Duck at Thomas Point.

I picked a Black Duck for the title because I may have overlooked them in the past. They’re actually somewhat threatened and I’m lucky to see the ones I do, mostly at Thomas Point or Bombay Hook.

Nothing new this week, but the numbers of Canvasbacks and Tundra Swans is up. Only a few ducks at the point, which is probably because of the warm weather. It’s just started to cool a bit, so we’ll see what happens.

Tundra Swan 2021-57

Many Canvasbacks spend their days here.

 

Lesser Scaup 2021-18

There’s only a few Lesser Scaup hens.

Canvasback 2021-38 Canvasback 2021-45 Canvasback 2021-47 Canvasback 2021-43

Canvasback 2021-48

There’s 200 or more Canvasbacks present.

Tundra Swan 2021-52 Tundra Swan 2021-51

Tundra Swan 2021-56

Tundra Swans routinely stretch like this.

Black Duck 2021-4 Black Duck 2021-3 Black Duck 2021-2

 

Black Duck 2021-5

Black Duck, bottoms up.

Bufflehead 2021-37 Bufflehead 2021-36

Bufflehead 2021-40

Bufflehead 2021-39

Many Buffleheads remain here all winter.

 

Redhead 2021-16

Only a few Redheads have shown up so far.

Mallard 2021-17

There’s always a flock of Mallards in the area.

Long Tailed Duck 2021-28

There’s a few Long Tailed Ducks out at the point.

Canada Goose 2021-27

White Throated Sparrow at Quiet Waters.

I got to Possum Point a couple of days ago and found Scoters, which I haven’t seen there previously. There was an overflight of 75 Double Crested Cormorants, which I’ve seen before. No Ruddys, which seems unusual, but I found a large flock at Thomas Point. I’ve also glanced at Jonas Green Park, but haven’t seen anything worth stopping for.

I got some nice closeups of a Long Tailed Duck and a White Throated Sparrow. A Cardinal has been attacking my car mirror at Thomas Point, and I recorded the action.

Canvasback 2021-14

Canada Goose 2021-5

Many Canada Geese winter in the area.

Bufflehead 2021-22

Bufflehead courtship can be a frantic affair.

Bufflehead 2021-28

 

Bufflehead 2021-13

Buffleheads seem to be thriving.

Cowbird 2021-4

I’ve been seeing a lot of Cowbirds at Quiet Waters recently.

 

Redhead 2021-6

A handsome Redhead.

Tundra Swan 2021-22 Tundra Swan 2021-18 Tundra Swan 2021-25

Tundra Swan 2021-14

There’s a bout a hundred Tundra Swans near Thomas Point.

Surf Scoter 2021-9 Surf Scoter 2021-8

 

Surf Scoter 2021-5

I’ve seen only a few Surf Scoters this season.

Cardinal 2021-5

Cardinal 2021-4

One warm day I left the window rolled down, and my Cardinal friend perched inside.

Long Tailed Duck 2021-24 Long Tailed Duck 2021-22

Long Tailed Duck 2021-15

Long Tailed Duck 2021-14

It’s not unusual for a single bird to hang out in the same place for a while. This Long Tailed Duck has been at Thomas Point over a week.

Black Scoter 2021-1

There’s a few Black Scoters at the point.

Dark Eyed Junco 2020-5

Dark Eyed Junco 2020-4

I saw a flock of 60 Dark Eyed Juncos at Quiet Waters.

Redhead at Thomas Point.

Tundra Swan 2021-9

This lucky shot turned out well.

It wasn’t really at Thomas Point, it was ay my friend’s  house just a wee bit up the road. This Ebird checklist will show what else was about. https://ebird.org/checklist/S79167434

The weather has been quite good for a week, and I’ve been getting out most days. I finally tried going over the bridge to CBEC, and it was a total bust.  My best guess is that the warm weather is keeping the ducks up North.

This is most noticeable at Thomas Point, when the usual hundreds of ducks is down to dozens. This is not the first time weather has affected the winter bird population.

SO, Quiet Waters and Thomas Point are sustaining me at the moment and that suits me.  There’s still plenty of virus around and I’d like to avoid it.

 

White Throated Sparrow 2021-1` Downy Woodpecker 2021-1 Downy Woodpecker 2021-2

Chippimg Sparrow 2021-1

I’ve been seeing a few Chipping Sparrows.

Tufted Titmouse 2021-3

Tufted Titmice are always active.

Cowbird 2021-1

Many Cowbirds have started showing up at Quiet Waters.

Cowbird 2021-2 Great Blue Heron 2021-3

Great Blue Heron 2021-1

Great Blue Herons seem to be around all Winter.

Great Blue Heron 2021-4 Mallard 2021-7Mallard 2021-12

Mallard 2021-9

There is a large Mallard Population.

Mallard 2021-5 Canvasback 2021-6 Tundra Swan 2021-8

Red Breasted Nuthatch 2021-1

Red Breasted Nuthatches are still in the area.

Lesser Scaup 2021-6

Lesser Scaup aren’t as numerous as in previous years.

Lesser Scaup 2021-5

Dark Eyed Junco 2020-2

I saw a flock of 60 Dark Eyed Juncos.

Cardinal 2021-1 Long Tailed Duck 2021-11

Song Sparrow 2021-4

Song Sparrows can be quite pretty.

Bufflehead 2021-12

Buffleheads seem to be very common right now.

Canada Goose 2021-3

Canada Geese can be quite boisterous.

Tundra Swan 2021-13

Surf Scoter 2021-4

I’ve seen only a few Surf Scoters.

Tundra Swan 2021-12

Tundra Swans will occasionally stretch their wings.

Mallard 2021-11

This is a Mallard/Black Duck hybrid.

Cardinal 2021-3

This Cardinal seems to peck at every mirror in the parking lot.

Redhead 2021-2

Redhead 2021-1

I’ve seen only a few Redheads this season.

Mallards at Thomas Point.

I’m featuring a Mallard image because it’s pretty good, and I probably haven’t done much with Mallards on the past. I’m prejudiced in favor of other birds, I think.

It’s been a decent week or so; good weather, good enough birds, and good political news.

I’m still looking around for vagrants, but not finding much in the last few days. Looking for Siskins means finding Goldfinches, who feed on the same gumballs. Lots of Bluebirds and Sparrows, also. Hawks and Woodpeckers as well as a few Ducks, made for variety.

Tufter Titmouse 2021-2

The Tufted Titmouse is sort of plain, so you need a good setting.

Tufted Titmouse 2021-1

Bufflehead 2021-1 Bufflehead 2021-8

Bufflehead 2021-2

Buffleheads are here in large numbers.

Canvasback 2021-2

Canvasback 2021-1

Many Canvasbacks are in the area.

Long Tailed Duck 2021-4

Long Tailed Duck 2021-1

This Long Tailed Duck is a first year male who doesn’t have his adult plumage yet.

Surf Scoter 2021-3

Surf Scoter 2021-1

There seem to be fewer Surf Scoters than usual.

Pine Siskin 2021-1

I haven’t seen the Pine Siskins in a week.

Eastern Bluebird 2020-1

t’s hard to beat an Eastern Bluebird in good light.

Carolina Chickadee 2021-1

Chickadee 2021-1

This Chickadee seems to be a neat eater.

Tundra Swan 2021-5

Tundra Swan 2021-2

A large flock of Tundra Swans stays in the are all Winter.

Lesser Scaup 2021-3

There’s a few Lesser Scaup hanging around.

White Breasted Nuthatch 2020-1

Learn the song of the White Breasted Nuthatch and you’ll hear them often,

Dark Eyed Junco 2020-1

I suspect there are more Dark Eyed Juncos than I’m finding They have great camouflage.

Red Tailed Hawk 2021-1

I wonder if this is the same Red Tailed Hawk I saw last month.

Carolina Wren 2021-1

Carolina Wrens blend in well.

Black Duck 2021-1

There’s usually a few Black Ducks in the area.

Canada Goose 2021-1

Canada Geese will kick up a fuss occasionally.

Red Bellied Woodpecker 2021-2

I often hear Red Bellied Woodpeckers, but they don’t pose this well.

Mallard 2021-1 Mallard 2021-3 Mallard 2021-2

Mallard 2021-1

Mallards can be enthusiastic at times.