Sunny, low 70s and calm winds
We continue north towards our base of operations for the next several months, New Smyrna Beach, FL. Viera Wetlands is just off I-95 on our journey, and so we decide to pay a quick visit for one drive around to see if anything different has popped up since I was here last Saturday. As we travel around to the various refuges at this time of year down here in the south, we realize that the birds here operator according to a different schedule from our birds to the north. Many birds will have multiple broods during the course of the year since the weather is amenable to bearing and raising young. We've noticed that many of the birds are paired off and already on the nest with eggs or young. Yesterday, we found many of the anhingas were building nests, sitting on the nest, tending to brand new babies or feeding those which have actually been around for at least a couple of weeks.
Today, Great blue herons were on the nests, and while we could not see any young, the adult birds were busy tending to the nests in preparation of their next brood. Many of the ducks we find are now in pairs.....Hooded merge, Pintails, Blue-winged teals, and Ring-necked ducks were rarely seen swimming alone. They invariably had a partner with them. Many of the birds are also mainly in breeding plumage and make striking subjects for the camera. The Ring-necked pair below were no exception as the male's plumage was pristine and the female's less spectacular plumage nonetheless was beautiful in its simplicity.
Today, Great blue herons were on the nests, and while we could not see any young, the adult birds were busy tending to the nests in preparation of their next brood. Many of the ducks we find are now in pairs.....Hooded merge, Pintails, Blue-winged teals, and Ring-necked ducks were rarely seen swimming alone. They invariably had a partner with them. Many of the birds are also mainly in breeding plumage and make striking subjects for the camera. The Ring-necked pair below were no exception as the male's plumage was pristine and the female's less spectacular plumage nonetheless was beautiful in its simplicity.
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| Ring-necked ducks The Hooded mergansers have been paired up since our arrival in Hilton Head three weeks ago, so it was odd to find a lone male hiding in the rushes along the water's edge today with no female in sight. We can only assume that the hen was nearby and that they simply needed their "space" for a brief time.  We will continue to watch for more of the evolution into breeding plumage, courtship displays, mating and the arrival of the new-borns over the months to come. I wonder if the birds are as excited about their new families as the birders are! |
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