The buffleheads have returned to the marsh from their breeding grounds farther north. (I call them clowns because of their playful antics.) A few have been here for a couple of weeks, but were mainly on the sewage lagoon. I caught these two this morning on the marsh proper. Its difficult to tell if these two are adult females or first winter males, as the young ones of both sexes resemble adult females. They'll be seen bobbing around the marsh until it freezes over, at which time some may move to the river and remain through the winter while the remainder may move farther down the coast.
I saw the bufflehead again this morning, all by its lonesome. It's possible it is a male juvenile, as they closely resemble the adult female.
This is a bird I was surprised to see at the marsh yesterday. I'm almost positive it's a female bufflehead. The buffleheads don't normally return to this area until October (they left in May for their breeding grounds - or I assumed they all did).
I finally got back to the marsh today, the first time since Sunday there's been a break in the weather. I was a little surprised to see the buffleheads still in residence. I expected them to be off to their nesting grounds by now (our population probably nests in northern Ontario). This flock was taking short circling flights and then returning to the water this morning, perhaps getting ready to depart.
This is a female bufflehead, and I'm quite sure it is the same bird in both photos; the top one was taken yesterday, the lower one this morning. The reason I chose to post these shots is that I've never seen a bufflehead when it wasn't in the water, and they always swim away from anyone who comes near. This bird, who seemed to be alert and otherwise okay, was sitting on the same clump of vegetation near one of the power poles on both days, and allowed me to come fairly close. I know they don't nest here. Another puzzle.
I was surprised there were no ducks in the open spots on the marsh this morning, but I know it won't be long before they'll be appearing. I checked the sewage lagoon to see if there were any there, and sure enough, there was a fairly large group of Buffleheads swimming and fluttering about. They are in courtship mode now, so will be displaying their amusing antics.
I did find some ducks this morning at the marsh, at the sewage lagoon which is still pretty much ice-free -- these Buffleheads. They appear to be 1st winter males. It looks like they'll be spending the winter with us.
