Take a break from the pie fights and enjoy a rare gorgeous November day in upstate NY.
With the cloud band firmly in Canada for a few days, it was time for a visit to Montezuma. I haven't been able to get out much this year, so this was a bit of soul healing.
Larue's Lagoon is backlit in the morning light. Didn't spot the Cinnamon Teal hybrid, just Canadas and Mallards.
The main pool is much easier to photograph in the morning, but still a lot of vegetation to deal with.
Northern Shoveler drake
Northern Pintail drake
Northern Pintail hen
A lot more Pintail drakes than hens.
Ring-necked, Lesser Scaup, and Gadwall stayed farther out. I need that window mount so I can use my little 5.5x crop factor Pentax Q...
American Wigeon Drake doesn't like the Pintails...
Scaup in flight
American Coot
Green-winged Teal drake
Lesser Scaup hen
Have to keep those feathers fancy for the ladies.
Green-winged Teal hen
This guy was on the chain link fence between the Thruway and the wildlife drive. I didn't see him till he flew in front of my car and landed in the tree on the other side of the drive.
I think this is why he was there.
A short way from the wildlife drive, on East Road, there were some flocks of passerines.
Dark-eyed Junco
Savannah Sparrow. Maybe a sign of a mild winter...or just late migrating.