Saturday, February 02, 2013

Eager for Spring Waterfowl

Buffleheads
 
 I stopped by the local lake today to check on ice conditions.  With the recent temperature swings of the past week going from the lowest temps of the winter to well over 60F Tuesday and back down to 12F last night the coves and the northern part are frozen with 2/3rds of the lake remaining open.  However even with the open water no waterfowl were visible.  While I am always on the look-out for waterfowl sightings it will be a few weeks yet before the spring migration begins.


 Lesser Scaup & Ring-necked Ducks
 
The photos shown here were captured in mid-November as the birds passed by on their southward migration.  While I have been hoping to find a time when weather and my schedule coincide for a visit to Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge on Maryland's Eastern Shore to photograph wintering waterfowl it has yet to work out.

Canada Geese & Tundra Swan

While we are again locked in winter's embrace, by the last week of the month Snow Geese and Tundra Swans should begin arriving at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area near Lancaster Pennsylvania.  I am planning my visit for the first week of March as this coincided with the opening of the roads through the WMA (unless blocked by snow) and usually the largest concentration of migrating snow geese.

4 comments:

Lois Evensen said...

It's lovely to see the birds from earlier months. :) Ah, the wonders of the ability to record these lovely images to enjoy later. Very nice and worth repeating.

Elaine said...

I'm looking forward to spring migration--of course I've got a got a good deal longer wait than you do....

Montanagirl said...

Spring migration is always a fun event. We still have winter here...14 degrees above this morning. Nice photos, Coy.

Lindsjö taxar said...

Beautiful pictures....we have ice on the lakes.
Hope you will get to the snow geese, looking forward to the pictures