January is a quiet month at Hornsby Bend, with primary activity coming from the ducks at the ponds and the wintering songbirds in the woodlands. Even so, 98 species were counted by Travis Audubon birders earlier this month. I was at Hornsby Bend just last weekend, taking a Purple Martin workshop and apparently duckweed watching.
After the workshop I headed over to the ponds. I’m a duck newbie, so I took delight in just watching the birds swim around and taking an occasional picture. The only birds I could easily identify were the American Coots, as their white bills and dark feathers are very distinguishable features.
The sun was rapidly getting low in the sky, so picture pickins’ were already few, but to make matters worse, my camera battery ran out of juice right before I happened upon a very curious site: several large groups of ducks packed together in a swirling mass in the water, heads feeding below the surface. I’d never witnessed such a phenomena — and drat it, I wanted my camera working! Turns out these were likely Northern Shovelers, filter-feeding as a group.
Looking back through my photos, I did manage to get a picture of a Northern Shoveler — I think — keeping watch over nearby sleeping females.
And while at other times of the year, killdeer are quite plentiful along the water puddles and shore areas, I only saw about 3, and only one of them was kind enough to stay still for a photo.
As always, I long to return to Hornsby Bend for a better visit. Maybe I can get back there during the spring migrations — at a better time of day for photographs!
I’m not good at ducks either but I love American coots — I find their distinctive honking sounds to be unbelievably charming. They should do the voiceover for the next cute, inarticulate muppet. It would be an instant favorite of toddlers everywhere.
What a beautiful place for an outing!
I think you are right — they would be perfect for a muppet. You know, not a single coot honked while I was out there — I should go back!
Hornsby Bend. Sounds like, and looks like, a fun spot for a visit. I’ll have to add it to the list. Lovely photos!
Great photos, the late light of the day is so soft.
It almost looks as though the duck is “walking on water” with his wings spread wide. As always, beautiful shots. I always love seeing Killdeer. I have seen them many times on beaches all up and down the East Coast. They have such gorgeous markings.
Your posts always bring a smile. Today this post and your previous post with the fun “hidden” fish brought me out of a mid-winter blues mood. Thank you, Meredith!