Lesser Scaup at Ashbridges Bay: January 10, 2022

Though the temperature this morning was a reasonable -6 degrees, strong winds made it feel a great deal colder at Ashbridges bay.

White Spruce (Picea glauca)
Lichen on Sugar Maple

This morning’s group:

Greater and Lesser Scaup look a lot alike. The principal difference is size (18″ long vs. 16.5″ long) and head shape.

The Lesser has a tallish head with an obvious corner at the rear:

Lesser Scaup

The head of the Greater is lower and more rounded:

Greater Scaup (male)

We had Greater and Lesser Scaup this morning. This photo shows one of each.

Lesser Scaup (l) and Greater Scaup (r) Both are males.

This morning’s birds:

Black-capped Chickadee
Lesser Scaup (male)
Lesser Scaup (male)
Lesser Scaup (female)
Lesser Scaup (female)
Lesser Scaup (female)
Lesser Scaup (female)
Lesser Scaup (male)
Canada Goose
Lesser Scaup (male)
Greater Scaup
Greater Scaup (male)
Lesser Scaup (male)
Common Goldeneye (male)
Lesser Scaup
Common Goldeneye (male)
Common Goldeneye (male)
Mallards
Common Goldeneye (male)
Long-tailed Duck (female)
Long-tailed Duck (female)
Long-tailed Ducks
Long-tailed Duck (male)
Mute Swan
Mallard and Mallard (hybrid)
Mute Swan

MAILBOX

Hi Miles!

I thought you might enjoy the attached nature clip that someone sent me. It is fascinating.

NATURE POETRY

Ring out false pride in place and blood,
The civic slander and the spite;
Ring in the love of truth and right,
Ring in the common love of good.     – Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809–92) 

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Lesser Scaup at Ashbridges Bay: January 10, 2022

  1. rosemarie fischer

    saw the Nature clip,is it real?????are those “critters” real??? were do they live???? sooo creepy………..
    I guess I’ll never get an answer on this……thanks anyway MH

    Reply

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