Single-digits on the Detroit River - 21 Jan 2005

21 January 2005 Detroit River, Ecorse

1200 Hrs.  Clear, sunny, cold, 9ºF.  Beautiful day out today, but it’s feels bitter cold, today.  Yesterday the river was clear, today its packed with ice.  The only open water around is the water between Mud Island and the shore here in Ecorse.  Most of the ducks and swans are out in the middle of the river, but a few are swimming in the open water.  Its just too cold to take any pics – gotta get back to work.

1530 Hrs.  Damn the cold!  Its supposed to snow tomorrow (9-12”) so today’s my chance.  No ducks close to shore.  There are Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers and the odd Common Merganser swimming by, but most are sticking to the far side of the open water.  Its freezing, but I seem to be getting some decent shots of a female Common Goldeneye.  Today’s her turn to mess with my frozen fingers and lack of focusing speed.  There is a single American Coot on the ice with the swans.  A few Ring-necked Ducks, but nothing close enough to digiscope.

Dingell Park (formally Ecorse Park), Wayne, Michigan, US
Jan 21, 2005 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     Cold 9F
8 species

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)  12
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  12
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)  4
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)  4
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)  6
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)  6
Common Merganser (Mergus merganser)  8
American Coot (Fulica americana)  1

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S182133674

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)