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| She's mine - get away! |
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| And stay away! |
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| Guess I told him. Aren't I something, beautiful lady! |
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| He's back! Didn't get the message. |
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| Get away, already! |
Showing posts with label Bufflehead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bufflehead. Show all posts
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Courting Waterfowl - Buffleheads
Buffleheads are one of our smallest ducks. Their general appearance and demeanor suggests sweetness. Don't be deceived. When it comes to the all important task of transmitting genes, the boys are as aggressive as any in trying to impress the girls and intimidate the other boys. Often multiple boys will be trying to impress and win over one girl in what we would call in human terms as sexual harassment.
And this final photo seems to show one guy gloating over his victory while his rival dives for safety. However, I prefer the caption, coming from the guy on the left: "Well, kiss my a**!"
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Coastal Interlude
Dabbler series will continue, but an interlude first: a day trip to Cape Ann ...
Good Birding!!
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| Bufflehead (Gloucester Harbor) |
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| Harlequin Duck (Granite Pier) |
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| Purple Sandpiper - Ruddy Turnstone (top left) |
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| Purple Sandpiper (Andrew's Point) |
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| Harlequin Duck (Andrew's Point) |
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| Iceland Gull (Niles Pond) |
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Coastal Birding
A day trip yesterday to the Massachusetts coast - Cape Ann & Newburyport area - produced good birding (which is something of a redundancy, since birding is, by definition, good - and a good way to spend a day).
About halfway through the morning, I realized that Common Loon was still absent, and made a particular point to look for it. No luck. Perhaps they were out to sea, or went - were blown - south by the recent, and rather strange, coastal storm.
Other than that, the usual suspects were present, though it seemed to be that the numbers were low. Tide was low in the morning, and the birds that were seen were rather far out, so photography was difficult.
On a day when wintering sea ducks, grebes, and alcids were the expected targets, the highlights were quite different.
At Eastern Point Lighthouse, an American Pipit posed briefly ...
... and at Salisbury Beach, a flock of 50+ Snow Buntings swirled around the campground.
Buffleheads were quite common all along the coast. The sharp contrast between the Bufflehead's bright white hood and bright white body with the dark wings, head, and neck have made this a challenging bird to get a good photograph of, and I have yet to meet the challenge. Nevertheless, in the low angle of the winter sun, the head and neck glistened with an iridescence that was stunning. This gentleman quite apparently has his eye on the lady.
The contrasting light and dark plumage on the Harlequin Duck poses the same photography challenge as does the Bufflehead. They were quite common along our route from the Granite Pier to Andrews Point - a reliable area to see these birds if you need them for a life list.
The King Eider was out to sea, or at least our of our sighting, yesterday. Common Eiders were - well, common - though there were no huge rafts as I have often see, and most were too distant for good photos. But this female was near the breakwater at the lighthouse ...
Good birding!
About halfway through the morning, I realized that Common Loon was still absent, and made a particular point to look for it. No luck. Perhaps they were out to sea, or went - were blown - south by the recent, and rather strange, coastal storm.
Other than that, the usual suspects were present, though it seemed to be that the numbers were low. Tide was low in the morning, and the birds that were seen were rather far out, so photography was difficult.
On a day when wintering sea ducks, grebes, and alcids were the expected targets, the highlights were quite different.
At Eastern Point Lighthouse, an American Pipit posed briefly ...
... and at Salisbury Beach, a flock of 50+ Snow Buntings swirled around the campground.
Buffleheads were quite common all along the coast. The sharp contrast between the Bufflehead's bright white hood and bright white body with the dark wings, head, and neck have made this a challenging bird to get a good photograph of, and I have yet to meet the challenge. Nevertheless, in the low angle of the winter sun, the head and neck glistened with an iridescence that was stunning. This gentleman quite apparently has his eye on the lady.
The contrasting light and dark plumage on the Harlequin Duck poses the same photography challenge as does the Bufflehead. They were quite common along our route from the Granite Pier to Andrews Point - a reliable area to see these birds if you need them for a life list.
The King Eider was out to sea, or at least our of our sighting, yesterday. Common Eiders were - well, common - though there were no huge rafts as I have often see, and most were too distant for good photos. But this female was near the breakwater at the lighthouse ...
Good birding!
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Waterfowl - Herrick's Cove and Hinsdale Setbacks
At Herrick's Cove (IBA in Rockingham, VT) on Tuesday, there were Green-winged Teal, 6 American Widgeon, 3 Common Goldeneyes, Hooded and Common Mergansers, Ring-necked Ducks, Mallards, Wood Ducks, American Black Ducks, Canada Geese. Also 2 Belted Kingfishers, Tree Swallows, Great Blue Heron, and all of the expected blackbirds. Bufflehead provided entertainment as two drakes vied for the attention of a hen.
Hooded Mergansers plied the edges of the ice.
On Wednesday at the Hindale setbacks south of Brattleboro (from boat launch north to parking area by causeway), I did better with noting the numbers. There were 300 Ring-necked Ducks, 120 Common Mergansers, 40 Hooded Mergansers, 4 Green-winged Teal, 10 Wood Ducks, 3 Bufflehead. Also Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Blue Heron, Ring-billed Gulls, Tree Swallows, and many Red-wings, grackles, and Song Sparrows.
Good Birding!
Hooded Mergansers plied the edges of the ice.
On Wednesday at the Hindale setbacks south of Brattleboro (from boat launch north to parking area by causeway), I did better with noting the numbers. There were 300 Ring-necked Ducks, 120 Common Mergansers, 40 Hooded Mergansers, 4 Green-winged Teal, 10 Wood Ducks, 3 Bufflehead. Also Bald Eagle, Belted Kingfisher, Eastern Phoebe, Great Blue Heron, Ring-billed Gulls, Tree Swallows, and many Red-wings, grackles, and Song Sparrows.
Good Birding!
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