Day 2 - January 2nd - Winterfowl

Sunny skies, mid- 40’s, breezy

Male bufflehead 
    It feels much more like winter today as the colder air mass headed our way is making its presence known.  There is still no ice on any of the local lakes and ponds, and so it is an ideal time to check and see if any of the winter ducks have arrived.  Each year, we are blessed with a wide variety of waterfowl which makes the Hudson Valley home as long as the water is free from ice.  Rockland Lake happens to be one of the areas where these ducks love to congregate at this time of year, and  I decided to see if I could call upon one or several to pose for today’s “image”.

     Well, the lake produced as promised and I was fortunate to get a nice assemblage of cooperative birds which are now quite used to having joggers, skaters, walkers with their dogs and any other pedestrians walk along the paved trail around the western side of the water.  Buffleheads were by far the most photogenic species of the day, and both male and female “models” came in close to shore to have their portrait done.  These have to rank among the top of the list as the “cutest” ducks on the planet.  We never tire of watching them dive endlessly in search of vegetation off the pond floor.

Female bufflehead

      The most numerous fowl were the American coots with well over 300 scattered around the lake’s surface.  “Birds of a feather flock together” was never truer than it is with coots.  When you see one, you’re going to see hundreds.

Coots

      Some of the most handsome ducks on hand today were the Common mergansers.  Females far outnumbered the males for whatever reason, but there were enough males to afford me a decent shot.

Male Common merganser

Bald eagle

      Where there are ducks, there are bound to be eagles looking for an occasional meal and today was no exception.   A fine Bald eagle was seen far above the water in no hurry at this time to explore the offerings.  Still, if I were a coot, I’d be plenty wary.  And so, today proves to be a fine day in the field.  What will tomorrow bring?