Ring-necked Duck

I’m going to cheat this week and profile a bird I saw two weeks ago, during a hike around Canoe Lake. In fact my last posting, of the Ruddy Duck, was taken from that trip. So let’s look at yet another black and white diving duck. (See postings for November 16, Hooded Merganser, and 22, Ruddy Duck.)

Though called the “Ring-necked” Duck, this diver can be identified by the white ring near the end of a bluish bill. Apparently, if close enough, you can see a chestnut ring about the male’s neck, though I think such opportunities are rare. As seen in this U.S. Fish & Wildlife photo, the male Ring-necked Duck, when breeding, has a black head, back, and breast, with grayish sides. During non-breeding months, the male's gray sides are more buff and he has no white "spur" (the raised area between breast and sides). Also, the Ring-necked Duck has a peaked head. Wintering in the South and West, this duck prefers small wooded ponds, where it eats snails and aquatic plants.

I've seen a few Ring-necked Ducks on a pond by my friend's farm but have not enjoyed their company on my pond. I did, however, have a pair of Mallards visit briefly this morning. They glided across the misty surface as Sammy, my English Sheepdog mix, gulped water from the bank. It was quite a pretty scene . . .

Till next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

Ruddy Ducks on Canoe Lake

Last Saturday I joined a small group for a nice hike around the lake at Canoe Creek State Park in Blair County, Pennsylvania. The hike was organized by the Juniata Valley Audubon (http://www.jvas.org/ . . . also on Facebook) and headed by Stan Kotala.

It was a mild but overcast November day, good hiking weather for a leisurely several-mile trip around Canoe Lake. Our leader expertly directed our ears and eyes to a variety of birds, both waterfowl and woodland. Because our aim was to see what ducks we might discover on the lake, for this posting, I’ve chosen to spotlight the Ruddy Duck (Public Domain photo of a summer male by John J. Mosesso).

Not sure why I chose to profile the Ruddy Duck (maybe the blue bill?) over the other worthies—American Coots, Canada Geese, Ring-necked Ducks, or Pied-billed Grebes—but I’m sure they’ll find their way into later posts. Checking my birding log, I see I’ve not listed a sighting of this blue-billed beauty since January 28, 2008! Almost two years . . . don’t fret . . . that’s not because they haven’t been around, more like I haven’t been diligent in my birding trips to open water.

Seeing a bird and identifying it—here I recognize others in the group for having done so—is only half the task. If you’re not already quite familiar with the bird spotted, you’ll need to do a bit of research once home. Of course, the guide you carry will provide immediate input, but I’m typically too distracted with other possible sightings to invest much time in studying the small printed pages. Ha!

So for homework, I investigated the Ruddy Duck at a few of my favorite online sites to see that, like the Hooded Merganser (of my last posting), the Ruddy Duck is a diver (as opposed to a “dabbler” . . . see above post). And like the merganser mentioned, he too winters in the southern states (as well as in parts of the West Coast and in Central America). Thus we probably caught this small group of Ruddy Ducks (males and females) on a lake-hopping trip south.

What I’m sure I’ve read before but didn’t retain, the male in only “ruddy” (brownish red) with a blue bill in spring and summer. In the winter, his sides become gray and his bill dull blue or grayish. Of course, there’s no mistaking that full white cheek and dark head. As to the female, she looks like the winter male but has a dark line through her white cheek.

So much to learn--but isn’t it fun? So until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

A Hooded Merganser Stays the Day

Last Tuesday I awoke to the happy surprise of a Hooded Merganser enjoying a rest stop on my pond. As the photo clearly shows, this is one beautiful duck! (Public Domain photo by Tim McCabe.)

A member of the family Anatidae (ducks, geese, and swans), the Hooded Merganser is a “diving” duck as opposed to a “dabbler.” For example, divers may disappear under water for many seconds seeking a fish, only to pop up again some distance away. Dabblers, on the other hand, are surface feeders who tip forward or “upend” to feed on aquatic plants, animals, and insects. (See my 10/28/09 post.)

Typically I see mergansers in the spring when they’re migrating north from their wintering grounds in the southern states. And usually I see them as mere specks from some far distant lakeshore. But not last Tuesday.For the entire day, I needed only glance out a window or stroll out my back door to see this most beautiful male preening, diving, or sleeping on the pond. Though tolerating my presence, he kept against the opposite bank whenever I casually strolled by. Even my sheepdog Sammy, who periodically went on a barking binge, did not rattle him. And once when looking out an upstairs window, I saw my calico cat, Gwendolyn, stalking the proud merganser.

No fear! Cats don’t like water and that duck kept a good distance from the bank. Seeing them together, as if posed for my benefit, I couldn’t help but note that they both possessed the same beautiful coloration—white, black, and a rusty brown.

Well the Hooded Merganser stayed the long day, until dark at least.When the dogs and cat and I were tucked inside for the evening, perhaps the solitary bird took flight to continue his trip south. Or maybe he spent the night. I don’t know but in the morning he was gone. Still I won't soon forget him or his visit.

Till next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!
Georgia Anne

One Year Ago Today . . .

On November 9, 2008, I began this blog. One year has past and so today I write this entry conscious of that beginning.

This morning I walked about my property with the dogs, mindful of the birds filling the fall morning with music. Most conspicuous were the Blue Jays, flying and calling through the hillside grove of cherry trees beside my house. More distantly I could hear American Crows in the woods, while nearby Dark-eyed Juncos (returning to spend the winter) flushed from bushes, their white-trimmed tails flashing. A Pileated Woodpecker, often a soloist, provided dramatic flair with his shrill kuk-kuk-kuk call.

With binoculars in hand, I scoured the leafless trees, scouting for the bird I would profile this day. That's when I saw a White-throated Sparrow perched in a sapling maple at the woodland's edge. Like the junco, this sparrow is also a winter visitor, and being he was the first I've seen this season, I selected him (photo courtesy of Ken Thomas).

Seeing this single White-throated Sparrow (and the returning juncos who faithfully visit my feeder throughout winter) reminded me that each season brings its own joys. So I look forward to my winter visitors and to sharing my experiences of them with you.

Until next time . . . Keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne

Belted Kingfisher

I recently met two friends for a quick outing to a local birding hot spot—an expansive pond, complete with fountains, on a golf course. We met mid-week, after a workday to see if, like other birders, we could catch some interesting activity on or near the water. Recent reports on a birding listserv, to which we subscribe, included sightings of an Osprey, even an eagle, so we had high expectations.

It was an overcast day and the water’s surface appeared steel gray. A few tall, thin spires of trees, long dead, rose from the water not far from the opposite shore. Scanning the quiet scene, my friend Ingrid spotted a Belted Kingfisher perched atop one of these dead trees. Even given the gray lighting and the distance, we could still tell it was a kingfisher. These fish-eating birds (hence the name) have heads that look too big for their bodies. And accentuating this big head is a nice full crest. The close-up provided (courtesy U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service) nicely demonstrates these features along with the bird’s long, strong beak for fish diving. The more distant shot (courtesy of Charles H. Warren) nicely illustrates the striking white neck and belly contrasting the slate blue plumage. The female (not shown) is more grayish with rufous flanks that stretch into a bellyband. Both male and female are very striking.

The male Belted Kingfisher we watched gave an aerial show, flying from his perch and across the water, calling noisily and (might I add, indelicately) defecating as he went. Like his striking appearance, the kingfisher’s call is not easily mistaken—a loud metallic rattle, which reminded me of the old-fashioned tin noisemakers.

Needless to say, Ingrid, Patty, and I left the pond with our expectations more than met by one strikingly handsome and accommodating Belted Kingfisher.

Until next time . . . keep birds in your heart!

Georgia Anne