Flying Mergansers

More views from Wednesday's foggy walk.  Darby Creek was full of ducks and geese because the impoundment was still frozen.  It provided a good opportunity to get pretty close to the Hooded Mergansers, even if only to see them fly away.

Good Day to be a Duck

The weather is going to be all over the map this week.  Yesterday I drove down to Virginia to see my parents in beautiful sunshine.  30°F felt warm.  Today for my drive home it was dark and dingy with the rain threatening to freeze at any moment.  I stopped by my favorite spot on Crum Creek Rd on the way home and got my closest look yet at the Hooded Mergansers.  The light was poor though so I can't crop the images.

Duck Days

Common Merganser

Hooded Merganser

American Wigeon etc

Gadwall

Lesser (or greater but I think lesser) Scaup

Mallard and Lesser Scaup

I wasn't going to venture out into the cold today but a traffic jam on I-95 changed my mind.  It was windy and very cold but the ducks were loving it.  Heinz served up the Mergansers, Common and Hooded, along with some Canada Geese and Mallards.  FDR had the Wigeon and Gadwall (not to mention Shovelers, Coots, and Mergansers.)  I initially thought the Wigeon was a very nice looking Gadwall so I think that makes it my first Wigeon.  The Philadelphia Navy Yard had Scaup, Lesser I believe, along with the Mallards.  I also saw Bufflehead at both FDR and the Navy Yard but couldn't get close enough for a decent shot.

Hooded Mergansers

Crum Creek

A little creek near my house runs into a small dam on one end and a reservoir on the other.  I've taken to driving along Crum Creek road to see who is hanging out in the water.  This morning there were a number of Hooded Mergansers mixing with the geese.  You can see a Hooded facing off against a Canada in the top photo.  I hung around long enough to see the Common Mergansers make their appearance.

Take Offs and Landings

Ruddy Duck

Pied-billed Grebe

Pied-billed Grebe  He flew like that the entire way!  Looks like his landing gear is down.

Black Duck

Hooded Merganser

Loving Ducks, Part 2

I drove out to Edwin B. Forsythe NWR again yesterday and spent at least two hours looking at ducks. Maybe it was three, I can't remember. I'm still trying to learn my camera-ok that's my excuse. I just really wanted to see the ducks. But look at them:


He's a Green-winged Teal. Check out the beak on the Northern Shoveler below:



And then this Hooded Merganser having wind/hair problems.


Seriously?? What's not to love?

Hooded Merganser