Other than the female Common Merganser that was in the golf course pond from December 2 through March 4, and occasional Mallards, I haven't seen ducks here in Old Trail for several months. It all changed today. We had a brief, but strong storm front move through last night, and even though it was a bit windy, I did some birding here in Old Trail this morning under bright and sunny skies. I ended up with 31 avian species, including my first of the year Pine Warbler for Old Trail.
Juvenile Cooper's Hawk
Song Sparrow
Eastern Bluebird
Pine Warbler
The first ducks I saw were four Gadwalls in the pond along Old Trail Drive.
Female Gadwall
Male Gadwall
The pond along the golf course was loaded with ducks: Buffleheads (15), Readheads (7), Ruddy Ducks (4); Ring-necked Ducks (8), as well as a lone American Coot. Two of the female Redheads had large white areas on the back of their heads. Perhaps this is normal, but I have never noticed this feature before. The male Ruddy Ducks were in partial breeding pumage.
Redheads and Ring-necked Ducks
Redheads, Buffleheads, and Ring-necked Ducks
Redhead and Buffleheads
Buffleheads
Buffleheads
Ring-necked Ducks and American Coot
Redheads and Ring-necked Duck
Ruddy Ducks
Ruddy Duck
Ruddy Duck
Ruddy Duck
I ended up at the small pond to the east of Rowcross Street where I saw a female Hooded Meganser.
Hooded Meganser
This morning's list:
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
American Coot
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Field Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow