Shake it off! - 27 Jan 2009

With the major irruption of Redpolls, Siskins and Crossbills garnering everyone's attention, I've been neglecting the waterfowl nearby on the Detroit River. So I took a quick run down to the boat launch here in Wyandotte to see if any ducks were near shore.

Pulling up to the fence next to open water I was greeted by dozens of Mallard, some looking for handouts. A few birds flew up and attempted to perch on the fence, and almost flew into my front window, hoping for a front-row seat. Since I had nothing to feed them they had to settle for getting their pictures taken.

Just a few feet away from the car a patch of open water held a pair of Redhead 

and a single drake Canvasback that had a hook in its mouth. The hook didn't seem to bother the duck, as it continued to dive and feed on celery grass below the surface. But, it could have also been trying to shake it loose... For a few minutes I fired away as it bathed and splashed in the cold water, spraying water everywhere!

A nice American Black Duck wandered nearby, as did a pair of male Gadwall that swam by.

Some 200 pics in about 10 minutes, I headed back to work! What a fun lunch break!

Wyandotte Boat Ramp, Wayne, Michigan, US
Jan 27, 2009 11:30 AM - 12:10 PM
Protocol: Stationary
Checklist Comments:     With the major irruption of Redpolls, Siskins and Crossbills garnering everyone's attention, I've been neglecting the waterfowl nearby on the Detroit River. So I took a quick run down to the boat launch here in Wyandotte to see if any ducks were near shore.
5 species

Gadwall (Mareca strepera)  2
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  30
American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)  1
Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)  1
Redhead (Aythya americana)  2

View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S166380347

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