Hooded Mergansers Return

We had a very interesting day at the banding station today. A lot of species and a few surprises. You should check it out.

Once I finish banding this time of year I like to make a slight detour by my old workplace to see what might have flown in to settle on the retention ponds. I have been expecting the Hooded Mergansers to return and today was the day. Near the road was a pair of females diving for food.



Across the pond, a couple of males drifted back and forth. The light was horrible for shots but these will do for the sighting ID.



They will stay in this general area through the Winter so I can try for better pictures week by week. Kind of comforting to know they are back in this spot year after year.

Finally! An Eagle Sighting!!

Following my daily duck counts I swing through the cemetery in hopes of seeing the Bald Eagles again. Today, success!!! Looks like the female is sitting comfortably in the nest. Yay! No sign of the male, however.



Now to keep a close watch for more signs of progress.

Long-tailed Duck

I headed home near dark after a Saturday at work. I circled Lake Davis and tried to get a count of the Ring-necked Ducks and to see if I could spot a duck I couldn't quite make out as I headed in earlier in the day. It was still there, visible as lighter than the Ring-neckeds, but I still wasn't completely sure I was seeing what I thought I was. Could it be? Nah...



I kept trying to any shots that I could get before the dark completely descended. Doesn't help that my auto-focus is busted, too.



I held my thoughts to myself and rushed home to post to the birding list to get thoughts from the collective. The response was nearly unanimous...



Our little neighborhood lake had another rarity in the middle of downtown Orlando. A Long-tailed Duck!



I bet it is a madhouse out there in the morning...