Wintering ducks, swans and geese are a big part of why I like moving into this season, despite the shorter days and colder temps. Suddenly the waterways are alive again with conversation and activity. These migrating birds nested in fresh water to the north of here, and return to my saltwater bays (and nearby wetlands) to feast on plants and invertebrates that will be accessible throughout the winter. We get a few cold snaps but it’s rare for the ground and wetlands to be frozen for more than a few days.
Today’s Dawn Chorus is my report of how this winter’s shallow-water bird season has started in my corner of the Pacific Northwest.
First ducks to appear were the Hooded Merganser hens and young. Hoodies nest in ponds not far from the coast so it’s a quick trip for them back to the bays. I saw small flocks of Hoodies in September.
Red breasted Merganser hens and young followed.
Haven’t seen the adult drake Red-breasted Mergansers but Hoodie males first appeared just last week. Some are in pairs, others in flocks.
The small year-round population of Canada geese swelled back up to winter numbers, about 200 of them in a nearby field who go out into the bay or ponds fairly often. This year I’ve been seeing a lone Cackling goose with the flock. The Canada’s pay no attention to the Cackler but allow it to hang out with them.
Last year we had a few Snow geese but that’s rare out on the island where I live. They mostly winter on the river flats over on the mainland. The first few hundred have arrived there; in peak winter numbers there will be 70,000+. Hunters are already out after them. I’m over there only intermittently, so I don’t know exactly when they first arrived, but this was the first time I saw them this season.
Incidentally, the term “waterfowl” is used by many to denote birds they plan to shoot and hopefully eat. I’m using the term as a shortcut rather than saying “ducks, geese and swans” or the more technical but less descriptive term Anatidae.
By the last week of October a whole lot of ducks had arrived. Over on the mainland, I get good looks at Wigeons in the bay by the ferry dock. There’s regularly a flock of 100+ feasting on sea lettuce that gets washed up there.
The most delightful ducks for me are the Buffleheads. Luckily they are also the most abundant. Buffies are at home in both fresh and salt water since they eat invertebrates, so you’ll see them in many aquatic habitats. One particular bay near my house is very protected and there are regularly 50+ buffies there unless a north wind blows hard. During those events they move to other bays.
Other abundant ducks that I see almost most often in freshwater are American Wigeons, Mallards, Pintails, and Ringnecks, although they find the stagnant end of a long shallow bay suitable too. We get less common ducks too but I haven’t seen any of those yet (like scaups, teal, shovelers).
On October 27 our first Trumpeter swans appeared in the usual wetlands. According to my records the swans are a little earlier than usual. Haven’t seen any immatures yet, and swan numbers are still few. In the ponds and wetlands, ducks crowd around foraging swans ready to dart in and grab weed scraps the swans loosen with their feet and then pull up with their bills. Swans, with their long necks, can reach deeper than ducks.
I always forget how big swans are until I see them with geese.
I’ve seen Surf scoters recently but mostly farther offshore. Same with Harlequin ducks. A few pairs have come into the bays.
We’re starting to move into the frequently grey days of winter but occasionally we’ll get a nice colorful sunset too. Regardless of the weather though, the waterways are becoming very cheerful now the ducks and geese and swans are returning for the season.
Anybody else seeing waterfowl arriving for winter? or departing, or passing through? Who livens up your winter?
Dawn Chorus is now open for your birdy observations of the week.