Last sighting of the season?

This northern shoveler drake was feeding by himself at the marsh this morning. He still hasn't achieved his full breeding plumage. I expect he will be leaving for his wintering grounds any day now.

Summer camouflage

Thanks again to the duckweed being closer to the marsh edges, I was able to get a shot of this northern shoveler yesterday (notice the large bill). After I took this shot, I noticed five more of the birds nearby. I think this one is a male, although since he is in his summer dress, it's a little hard to tell.

Double duty

Yesterday morning I noticed eighteen Canada geese at the marsh, including this pair, with the one atop a muskrat lodge. I wonder if it's the goose, pondering whether it would make a good nesting spot... Note the northern shoveler pair, the male in the water far right, and the female standing on a clump of vegetation.

Early birds

What a change at the marsh this morning, after several cold, windy days. The air was filled with birdsong and the marsh was filled with waterfowl - plus a raft of seagulls. I spotted something way out next to one of the islands, and upon a closer look discovered these two Northern Shoveler males, the first I've noticed this year. They are commonly late arrivals, so nice to see them here. (American black duck in the background.)

Hanging in there

Today the wind was back with a vengeance, and the temperature had plummeted. Although there were many ducks on the water - including these two male Northern Shovelers - for the first time, I saw no cormorants or wood ducks. As birds often move at night when they migrate, and the arrival of a cold front can prompt migration, it could be that they have left the marsh for the year.

Another smart dresser

Keeping the wood ducks company on the sewage lagoon yesterday, were two male Northern Shovelers. They, too, have beautiful winter plumage, although this male hasn't quite reached his peak color-wise. I'm a little surprised some of the shovelers are still here; I expect they will be on their way to their wintering grounds in the southern U.S. and Mexico very soon. (The poster edges filter was used on this shot.)

Leaving soon

Just as I was watching some Black Ducks, Mallards and Green-winged Teals on the marsh this morning, a group of about ten ducks flew in and landed among them. They were Northern Shovelers. This male is still molting out of his eclipse plumage into his winter garb. It won't be long before they'll be leaving for their wintering grounds.

The bills have it

Not a whole lot of activity at the marsh this morning, except for the cormorants out feeding. I did see a small group of Northern Shovelers, however, including these three, swimming among the dead trees. It has been a while since I've noticed them, so I was happy to see them today. They should be heading south sometime within the next month.

What a quacker!

I saw two Northern Shovelers feeding at the marsh this morning. There's certainly no mistaking a Shoveler, with that bill. The Cyrano de Bergerac of the marsh!

Northern Shoveler

The male Northern Shoveler is a pretty duck. It's fairly easy to recognize shovelers; the size of their bills gives them away. This fellow is seen frequently on the marsh, quite often by himself. I hope he has a mate nesting somewhere; there was one shoveler brood hatched on the marsh last year.