I saw several signs that fall migration is in full swing. First, a large flock of long-billed dowitchers flew over the lake before leaving. Then, I saw some new duck species.
Though we have some gadwalls most of the year, I saw a few new ones. I know that Project Wildlife was going to release a few, but that was over a month ago. This gadwall was really cute, not as pretty as Gaddy, the resident male gadwall, but pretty cute. Note the bright red feathers near the wings.
Also, I saw a few small green-winged teals:
Here's a mallard pair:
We have two new young dumped ducks. I wish people, at least would fatten up their dumpees before they dump them:
The blonde duck is changing colors and seems to be getting a gray head:
Jill has been very sick and even disappeared for a few days. I thought she was dead, but she wasn't. She seems better today, but has lost some weight.
I think this might be Smudge:
And, I think this might be her baby, the first baby I've seen in the season. He still has baby down.
I don't know if you can see them well, but I think these are two juveniles in the ballfield. They were horsing around and play-fighting. One looks a lot like Pollux:
You probably can't see it, but there's four killdeer in this photo, two adults and the two juveniles who seem to be having a lot of fun. I think the adults might be Squeak and Pollux.
I also saw a young male mallard with fishing line wrapped so tightly around his leg that I can see the foot tissue dying. He might be one of Butterscotch's ducklings or another duckling that flew in. He's definitely over four months old because he's almost in full adult colors, but still has a young face.
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