Filling up while the sun shines

The sunny, warm weather seemed to spur squirrel activity as well. The squirrel in the top two shots was bustling about in the leaf litter yesterday, searching for tidbits, possibly things it had previously hidden, then devouring them when they were located. The squirrel at the bottom I first thought was a bird when I noticed its shape in the tree, but apparently hawthorn berries aren't just bird food.

Passing in the morning

This beautiful weather has certainly caused increased activity among the muskrats at the marsh. Yesterday I caught these two as they swam past each other, with nary a glance at one another.

Unwitting entertainers

There are definitely more Buffleheads than anything else on the marsh these days. These birds are so small (they are our smallest duck) that on rough water like today, they bob on the surface like corks. They are also among the most amusing ducks to watch, especially during courting season. The three shown here include, from left to right, a first winter male, an adult male, and an adult female.

Taking it in stride

Today was the first sunny day in over a week, so was very welcome. The waters on the marsh were still being buffeted about by the strong winds, though. It's not often whitecaps are seen at the marsh. I was happily surprised to see five American Coots on the upper side of the marsh, busily feeding, oblivious to the rough conditions.

Hugging the shallows

Yesterday, the 10th, still under gray skies with strong winds, I did find twelve Green-winged Teals, ten males and two females, feeding and resting in the cattails at the upper end of the marsh (three of the males shown here). No sign of them today, so they may have departed.

Is that a scowl?

No, I didn't get lost, I was just grounded by five days of rain. I returned to the marsh on the 9th, to very high water, with no dabbling ducks in sight - although still plenty of the diving variety, especially the buffleheads. I did find one lone Cedar Waxwing which was accompanying a small flock of robins, feeding on rose hips and hawthorn berries. In this shot, the waxwing looks as though he didn't appreciate being interrupted.

Pretty boy - or girl

I saw five White-throated Sparrows this morning feeding on berries, plus a number of Song Sparrows flitting among the vegetation. And the Dark-eyed Juncos have definitely moved in, hopefully to stick around for the winter. I caught this fellow posing on a tree branch.

More mergansers

I saw these four male Hooded Mergansers swimming towards the marsh edge this morning, so hurried along to where they were headed. I was pleasantly surprised to find ten in total, six females in addition to the four males. They could remain on the marsh until it freezes, and then move out to the river.

Handsome couple

There are still a number of Mallards at the marsh. This morning I caught this pair which had been feeding at the marsh edge.

Late leaver

The nicer weather today seemed to bring out more birds at the marsh, including this one which I'm pretty sure is a female Common Yellowthroat. I found it in a multiflower rose bush; I certainly didn't expect to see one here in November! (I applied a poster edges filter to sharpen the image.)