Everything is Just Ducky at Great Meadows

As you wander around Great Meadows you will encounter a number of different species of ducks.  They are pretty spectacular all decked out in their spring breeding plumage.

There seems to be an direct relationship between how colorful the duck is and how skittish they are.  Ring-necked ducks are pretty mello and laid back.  They are often seen cruising in small groups, especially in the lower impoundment.


Male Ringed-neck


Female Ringed-neck



Click on the image to see a larger version to see where they get their name


Ring-necks in flight


Female stretching


Thankfully he's fast, lest she drown


On the other hand, the pretty boy Wood Ducks are some of the most skittish ducks at Great Meadows.  On rare occasions you will see them in open water close to shore.  More commonly, you will hear them flying away as they see you before you see them.  Keep your eyes pealed for them swimming in among the reeds.  Don't be surprised if you do see one sitting in a tree.


Male Wood Duck


Side by side comparison of male & female Wood Ducks

Ducks are divided into divers and dabblers.  Among the diving ducks that you will regularly see at Great Meadows are:


Male Goldeneyes


Male Bufflehead


Male & Female Bufflehead

Our most common dabbling duck is the mallard. They are the Rodney Dangerfield of ducks ... they get no respect, at least around here where they are so plentiful. Elsewhere birders would find the male's iridescent green head quite attractive.


Male Mallard


I forgot I had taken this shot, until I got home and was reviewing the photos. I like how it looks like the female Mallard is shaking off the water like a dog

One of my personal favorites is the Hooded Merganser. Both the male and females have fancy head crests. The male's is black & white design, while the female's is a plain but pretty cinnamon color. Since they are diving ducks these crests are often wet back, but keep a watch out for when they display the full crest.

These is a pair that can often be seen near the observation deck. They appear to be getting somewhat habituated to people, so they have been swimming closer to shore....of course that may also be because they feed in shallower water.

Hopefully they will decide to raise a family here this year. Since they are cavity nesters pay attention to our many dead trees, or perhaps they will set up housekeeping in one of the many duck boxes.

Male & Female Hooded Merganser


Male Merganser showing off


Though they are somewhat habituated to people, they really don't like it when you approach them too rapidly / closely or talk too loudly which unfortunately two people did while I was photographing them. Thankfully I kept my eye to the camera and got a couple of flight shots as they left to find a calmer, quieter spot.

Updated: To replace accidentally double posted photo with the correct photo.

A Confusing Season

It is that strange transitional season at Great Meadows. Winter is slowly loosing its grip, but is not going out without a struggle. Spring has sent the advance team, but has not yet arrived.

There are large patches of wide open water on the impoundments, but the edges and along the river are still surrounded with ice.  The water levels are high and constantly fluctuating as the storms fill the Concord river which overflows its banks filling the impoundments.


Muskrats flooded out of their lodge


In spite of temperatures in the teens and another snow storm on the way, a wide ranging collection of waterfowl can be found at the refuge. This week's census identified:

• Canada Geese
• Wood Duck
• American Wigeon
• Mallard
• Northern Shoveler
• Green-winged Teal
• Ring-necked Ducks
• Bufflehead
• Common Goldeneye
• Hooded Merganser

I managed to capture some record shots of a few of the less common visitors.

American Wigeon moves on  Northern Shoveler exploring along the river  Startled Northern Shoveler takes flight Male Hooded Merganser
Along the Dike Trail you will be greeting by returning migratory birds including   Grackles     Red-winged Blackbirds On such a cold morning, you find yourself jealous when you encounter an animal that has found a protected spot out of the wind, relaxing and soak up the sun, while waiting for spring to make its arrival.

After The Storm(s)

After each of the last two storms, I rewarded myself for shoveling out our house with a trip to Great Meadows. Each of the storms was very different. The first storm was light puffy powder. Unfortunately, after it passed it was also bitterly cold. Most of the wildlife had the better sense to stay hunkered down some place "warm". However hunger can be a very powerful motivator. I assume that this was the driving force for this Downy Woodpecker who was preoccupied with harvesting food from the cattail stalks. It allowed me to get closer than most.

The biting wind just cut right through you. Even in the cold, it was interesting to watch the wind kick up the snow into miniature "snow devils" as it raced across the impoundments.


Looking down to keep the wind off my face (and avoid that involuntary crying that often comes with cold wind on your face) I spied this twig embedded in the snow. It reminds me of a scallop shell.


My most recent visit was after Sunday's snow. Since the snow finished overnight and there was little wind, the branches were still covered with snow. At home the sky in the distance was dark, almost foreboding, but the foreground was lit by sun. I thought this would make some dramatic landscapes so I hustled over to Great Meadows. Time was of the essence because in a little over an hour the snow covered branches would start to thaw and the snow would all be on the ground.

You know the old proverb "Man plans and God laughs". Well that was true today. In Concord the sky stayed gray and cloudy. The wonderful light at home, was not flat and boring. So I switched up my plans. Technically, I made it to the refuge, but I barely made it over the bridge on the Cross Dike trail. The open water here is a magnet for the wildlife that is in the area.

There was a Redpoll flitting about.


And numerous Song Sparrows

 
 
 
I like this shot because the water still clings to his beak due the surface tension
I think my favorite bird at Great Meadows is the Marsh Wren. Several decided to winter over. Seeing them reminded me that soon enough spring / summer would be hear and we would witness their mating displays up and down the Dike Trail.

   

The muskrats were also starting to become active. There were 4-5 that we swimming under the ice, retrieving food, and finding a spot in the open water to have a bite to eat.


Though the day was much milder than my last visit, a couple hours standing in the cold does take its toll. It was up to the Warming Shed (more commonly called the bathroom) for a quick blast of warmth. On the way there I heard a distinctive call, but my brain was having trouble identifying what I should be looking for. It was loud and high in the trees near by. At last I saw it, a Pileated Woodpecker. It flew down and across to the trees near the stream and the rail trail where it just posed for a few minutes.

  You can tell it's a male by the red mustache under his bill, combined with the red on the red going all the way to the bill. 
  Here's a good shot of the nictitating membrane that protects the eye while pecking (nature's safety goggles)
This hole is pretty deep. I don't know if it had drilled it out previously, or whether it was leveraging the work of prior woodpeckers. In any case, keep you eyes pealed when you are near the rest rooms.

I love the snow that was still clinging to the tree in the woodpecker photo. I think it makes the shot. So I didn't get what I intended, I was rewarded for getting going early.