Ducklings

Photographing the waterfowl migrations this spring was a huge disappointment.  With the draining of the Meadow Grounds Lake I no longer had a body of water near home where I could photograph waterfowl from the boat.

 

  With Raystown Lake the next nearest place to boat in Pennsylvania I spent at least one day each weekend fishing and attempting to photograph waterfowl there only to find that the waterfowl photography in no way compared to working the much smaller Meadow Grounds.  While various species of waterfowl were present for the most part they would flush while I was too far away for good photography. 

 

With the Meadow Grounds out of play what waterfowl photography I did encounter occurred in small wetlands.  With some of the results posted here.

 

Wood Duck hen with both Wood Duck ducklings and Hooded Merganser young

 

This was the first time I ever observed a wood duck with both wood duck and hooded merganser ducklings in tow.  I expect that the mergansers made it back to the proper mother as I have not observed a mixed flock since. 

 

Wood Duck duckling

All ducklings are not hatched at the same time so it is common to see young of various sizes in a single outing.

 

Mallard Duckling foraging in the shallows

 

Hooded Merganser apparently from an early hatch

 

Hooded Merganser duckling feeding.
 

 

Duckling Escape

 

Finally finding time for an evening visit to the wetlands I was eager to see some of this year's waterfowl babies.  After concealing myself on a small hummock with camouflage blind material wrapped around both myself and camera rig I was soon rewarded when a young hooded merganser swam into view. 

 

Even though I was concealed the clicking shutter gave my position away as the duckling passed close by. 

 

Alarmed, the little merganser beat a hasty retreat. 

 

Throwing up a wake much like that of a motor boat!

Lesser Scaup

Flushing Male Lesser Scaup

With the spring waterfowl migration in full swing some of the species have already moved north of my area.  The Lesser Scaup photos on this post were taken on March 30th. 

 

 

Lesser Scaup are one of the earliest to arrive in my area and among the earliest to leave.  This encounter was apparently my last for the spring as I have not located any lesser scaup in subsequent outings. 

 

Two males and a female show their concern about my slowly approaching boat.

Another First: White-winged Scoters

 

With the draining of the Meadow Grounds Lake continuing now into its seventh week the water level had fallen too far for launching trailer boats.  With the Meadow Grounds now out of play Saturday morning found me launching on Raystown Lake in neighboring Huntingdon County. 

 

With the lake being 26 miles long with 118 miles of shoreline waterfowl and waterbirds have a lot of territory to hide out in.  While mallards and Canada's were frequently spotted throughout the day the only other species of ducks that I was able to identify were these white-winged scoters.

 

Scoters are considered salt-water ducks however are sometimes spotted on lakes in our region during the migrations.  While I had previously photographed a surf scoter at the Meadow Grounds a few years ago this encounter was my first with the white-winged scoter.

 

As the pair flys away their namesake white wing patches are prominately displayed.

 

 

Lifer: Long-tailed Duck

Long-tailed Duck

 

While I have observed Long-tailed Ducks on the Chesapeake Bay a surprise encounter with this male sporting his winter plumage on the Meadow Grounds Lake was my very first time with one in front of the camera.

The duck was hanging out alone in about 8 feet of water.  He would allow me to approach to within about 30 yards before evading the boat by diving.  I quickly learned that the duration of each dive was approximately 30 seconds.

 

How fitting that as the water drains away from my favorite little mountain lake that I was able to capture another "lifer" photograph before the lake is gone.

Birds on the Move

 

Finally, after a dull drab winter, the bright colors of brilliantly marked waterfowl again grace our local waters. 

 

Spending the early morning in a pop-up blind along a wetland I observed Canada geese, mallards and wood ducks. 

 

Male Red-winged Blackbirds were busy singing their lusty territorial song as they lay claim the their preferred nesting areas.  I spotted Red-wings for the first time this year on Monday.  Today was my first sighting of Wood Ducks.

 

 

I was unable to reach the Meadow Grounds Lake by car this morning because of the snow remaining from Wednesdays storm; however from the top of the mountain I could both see and hear a flock of Tundra Swans on the lake. Returning with the truck close to mid day I found that the swans had moved on with only this mixed flock of ducks remaining. The flock seen here contained 3 male Red-heads, one male Red-breasted Merganser, and one male Common Golden-eye. Last weekend I observed Hooded Mergansers, Lesser Scaup, and Ring-necked ducks here.

I still find it hard to believe that soon this vibrant wildlife community will be gone. Even now the level is dropping as the first of the stop logs were removed from the dam this past week.

 

The mission of the Fish and Boat Commission is to protect, conserve, and enhance the Commonwealth’s aquatic resources and provide fishing and boating opportunities.

 

With lakes drawn down or drained all over the state, fish hatcheries scheduled to close, and boat ramp maintenance everywhere put on hold it seems to me that the time has come for either the PFBC to rewrite their mission statement or begin to step up to the plate.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking Ahead to Spring

While Nemo didn't impact my area winter is still holding us in its icy grasp.



Windblown Cattails

 With the early spring waterfowl migrations in mind I stopped by some of my favorite local waterfowl spots yesterday.  The cattails in a swampy area are shedding their fluff but the only birds I spotted were a red-tailed hawk and a northern mocking bird; both year around residents.

 A wood duck nest box sits empty, suspended over ice covered water

However this will all change very soon.  This photo taken on February 22, 2012 was my first migratory waterfowl encounter last year.  Upon checking back through my records I find that Red-winged blackbirds usually arrive in my area during the last two weeks of February and are soon followed by a progression of waterfowl species.  While the lakes can hold ice longer, wetlands are usually thawed by the first week of March and waterfowl will arrive as soon as the water is open.

First migratory waterfowl encounter of 2011.  This photo was captured March 4th.

 

While spring doesn't officially arrive until March 20th this year those that are attuned to natures cycle know that wildlife will begin reacting to the change of the season very soon.  It's time now to check out the spring photography gear for with only a couple of weeks to go the wonder of the spring migrations will be upon us here in southern Pennsylvania.

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.

On the Wing: Canada's and Tundra Swan

With the deer hunters finishing up their last day of hunting Saturday my buddy and I decided to head for the lake for an afternoon of late autumn fishing.  A flock of Canada geese with one lone tundra swan were resting near the shoreline.  Taking a break from fishing I readied the camera with the 100-400mm lens attached and approached until the Canada's took flight.  This shot was made using the 400mm setting, handheld, image stabilization activated.

The lone tundra swan flushed moments after the Canada's had departed.  Again the shot was made at 400mm, handheld.  With the waterfowl very wary and water temp's dropping to near the freezing point it may be nearly time to put the boat away for the winter. 

Foliage and Waterfowl

Our autumn foliage colors peaked over the weekend just in time for the Fulton Fall Folk Festival.  I shot these photos Friday and already the color is beginning to fade as showers of leaves fall to the ground with each passing breeze.

 For the first time this fall I encountered ruddy ducks as they moved south. This female allowed me to approach quite closely with the boat.  The reflection of the autumn leaves in the water painted an appealing background to photograph her against.

The Pied-billed grebes were present as they have been for the past few weeks.  After hearing a commotion in the shallow I moved closer to find three grebes fighting over a bluegill.  I followed the grebes at a discrete distance, photographing them with the 100-400mm lens, trying not to interfere with their feeding.

The grebe tried unsuccessfully to swallow the good sized fish a number of times.  Finally tiring of my presence the bird took cover in the reeds lining the lake shore.  With it hidden from view I moved on not knowing if it was ever able to swallow such a large fish.

This group of ruddy ducks was shot at a distance and cropped heavily.  Note the molting male bringing up the rear.  Only a little of his breeding plumage remains on his back and sides while his bill has lost it bright color turning black for winter.

Spring is by far my favorite time to photograph migrating waterfowl as the birds slowly wend their way northward, many sporting their breeding plumage.  In contrast the fall migration finds the ducks with the afterburners turned, on wasting little time getting to their wintering areas, giving only a small window of opportunity to photograph them as they pass through. 

Fishing for Loons

Common Loon

Arriving at the lake before sunrise this morning, mine was the third boat out.  With the air temp ten degrees cooler than the water, fog hugged the water limiting visibility.  Seeing the one boat heading north and the other still near the ramp I headed directly towards the western shore and began searching for waterfowl.  With the spring migration nearly over I realized that the likelihood of success was not high. 

As the sun began cresting the eastern mountain I heard the unmistakable call of a loon echoing down the lake loud from the north end.  Immediately I headed that way, passing the boat headed north earlier.  Locating the loon I began maneuvering for photographs.

But this loon had a very low tolerance for boats and dove before I could get to withing good camera range.  Soon it resurfaced and again I tried a slow approach but again it submerged with this pattern repeating until the other boat with two fishermen were close at hand.  With the loon underwater I was motoring slowly in tight circles waiting for the loon to pop up.  The pair of fishermen were intent on casting to the side of their boat when the loon surfaced only a few yards directly in their line of travel.  As they were looking to the side they failed to see the loon but the loon, alarmed by the close proximity of their boat, immediately dove with a huge splash.

Talk about a reaction from the fishermen!  Hurriedly they retrieved their lures and cast into the spreading wake where the loon had submerged.  No doubt they thought that a huge bass had jumped and were wasting no time getting their lures into the strike zone.  With a chuckle I continued to circle watching for the loon to reappear.  A few minutes passed and then it popped up 50 yards or so from their boat and once again dove with a huge splash.  Once again the fishermen heard the commotion but again failed to see the cause, so this time they motored over and resumed casting to the wake, and once again to no avail.

Feeling that the loon had had enough of the boats I only waited a few minutes and when it did not reappear I motored off to do some fishing of my own.   I don't know if the fishermen had a successful day but at least they do have the story of the huge bass that jumped twice but was so lure-shy that neither time could they entice it to hit. 

Loons are very adept fishermen but this encounter is the first I ever witnessed a loon fooling the competition :)

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Pied-billed Grebe with Crayfish

Pied-billed grebe are the most common nesting grebe is the eastern US.  Their range extends from our southern border well into Canada. The pied-billed grebe's diet consist mainly of fish, aquatic insects and crustaceans. 

I photographed this bird at Florida's Viera Wetlands as it attempted to eat a large crayfish

Grasping the crayfish with its stout bill, it repeatedly shook it violently to break its body into manageable pieces.

The grebe's catch attracted the attention of other a group of coots who pursued the grebe attempting to steal the crayfish.  The little grebe responded to their attempts by swimming rapidly away to a more secluded area.

Waterfowl Migration Winding Down

Ring-necked ducks taking flight

With the arrival of May the spring waterfowl migration is winding down in my area.  It all began back in late February with the snow geese and tundra swans arriving at Middle Creek and by early March buffleheads, lesser scaup, and common mergansers were on the local lake.  The mild winter had failed to freeze the lake so there was not the usual ice to impede their early arrival.

By early April these species had moved on and were replaced with hooded mergansers, ring-necked ducks, horned grebes, along with the resident mallards and wood ducks.  Last weekend a flock of ring-necked ducks were still on the lake.  During my visits yesterday and today I failed to spot them.

Common Loons

The loons arrived during the second week of April with the numbers peaking last weekend when I spotted at least four individuals.  I photographed this pair yesterday but today was unable to spot a singe loon.  More loons may arrive yet however I will not be surprised if this is the last I will see them this spring.

Common Loon, winter plumage

As the loons pass through our area both the breeding and winter plumage can be seen with birds of both plumages being seen in nearly equal numbers.

Loon in flight

Check out how the loons feet extend well beyond its tail apparently acting as its rudder in flight.  The loons legs are positioned far back on its body; perfect for diving but useless for walking on land.  A loon causes a considerable commotion taking flight as it must patter for well over one hundred yards to gain enough speed to become airborne. 

Seldom have I observed a loon return to the lake once it takes flight.  Typically the loon, once in the air, will circle the lake a number of times clockwise gaining altitude with each pass.  After three to five passes it will be high in the air while I watch it passing over the north end of the lake soon becoming a mere speck above the horizon before disappearing completely.

Red-breasted Merganser

The female and immature red-breasted mergansers are the last to leave.  I have never observed mature males later than mid April however hens and immature males will stay well into May, sometimes as late as the last week.  I photographed this female stretching her wings yesterday after she had emerged from fishing underwater.

Female Red-breasted Mergansers

The mergansers were very actively fishing yesterday and diving frequently.  I enjoy watching these birds when they encounter a large school of baitfish.  The birds will go from swimming with their heads underwater to running across the surface when suddenly the entire flock will dive.  Where moments before a flock of ducks were swimming, only swirls on the water remain.  A few moments later heads will begin popping up some distance from where they dived and the search for fish will resume.

Many of the diving species such as the loons, horned grebes, pied-billed grebes, and redhead ducks will dive to evade intruders however while they dive to feed, the red-breasted merganser when pressed to closely take flight.

While the waterfowl migration is winding down the spring song bird migration is heating up.  Just this week I spotted my first hummingbird, cat bird, and spotted sandpiper for the season.

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