Weekend/recent conditions in Erie County, PA highly variable, with much of Presque Isle Bay unfrozen due to recent slightly warmer temperatures. (Weather this Saturday morning: rain.) Likely to change next week, with temperatures expected to plummet.
Taking a break from Gull Point coverage with ducks, and lots of ’em. There are so many things to enjoy in observing (dare we say, watching?) bird behavior – Bald Eagles dive fishing, woodpeckers pecking wood, gulls fighting over fish, hummingbirds feeding on wildflowers, etc. Surely towards the top of the list, though, is waterfowl aerobraking for landing. Never gets old, either generally observationally or, more specifically, photographically. [Editor’s note: four “-ally” for the win!] These recent shots @ South Pier:
Following is mostly a mix of Redhead & Lesser Scaup ducks w/ some American Coots in the water, maybe a Ring-necked Duck or two:
ID note – in following shot, male Redhead lower left, two ducks to the right of it = female Redheads:
Nice sequence of Redheads landing in the channel between North Pier (background) & South Pier:
Male Mallard coming in for a steep landing @ Coast Guard Station:
Closing it out with an aerial shot of Lesser Scaup (4 ducks lower right) and 1 Common Goldeneye (upper left):
As a Team Member, we always like to see ducks land. Nothing like it1 Landing, landing, landing! and more!
Helps to have a little sunlight to bring out the color.