Random Rambles and Pictures

I just thought that, since I have't posted in a while, that I would post a few random updates.

I saw Pepper the duck a couple of weeks ago at Lake Murray. He'll be 7 this year.

Several ring-necked ducks are also at Lake Murray right now.

Remember Snowie and Snowy's duckling, Uno? Well, he's back with his girlfriend. He's less red now, but still looks a lot like his mom and dad.

This new gray duck was dropped off the lake a few months ago. She's doing well so far. I think we also had a new female Pekin, but something happened to her.

Fat little spotted sandpiper is spending the winter at the lake.

Here's a sunset photo from Lake Murray in November.

I went to the Southeast Arizona bird festival last August. I got some OK pictures. Here's what I think is a Laconte's Thrasher at the Payton Center for Hummingbirds.

Lots of White-winged doves there, too.

And, of course, hummingbirds. I saw several species there. Here are two different kinds right here.

I was also at the Salton Sea last weekend. Not much going on there, though. No ducks or pelicans.

Ring-billed gulls flying by:

Stilts, too, and a couple killdeer, but not much else.

Ducklings still being seen

Here is another duckling update at Lake Murray. Even though it is late in the season and many ducks are already molting and even migrating, there are still ducklings being hatched. Here are some updates.

Uneaten Ducklings:

The two "uneaten ducklings" were doing quite well and were growing fast and healthy.

Unfortunately, something happened to one of them soon after this next picture was taken. The one in the front went missing. It's unusual to lose them when they reach this age of about three weeks old.

Here he is with his mother who was swimming quickly away from something.

This last duckling was named Uno II:

Growing feathers:

These next two pictures were taken today. Uno II is nearly a month old now. He's more than half feathered.

He's the same age as those two older ducklings when they left their mother.

Speaking of the older ducklings, I haven't been photographing them that much. Both ducklings are completely grown now and flying. Now, it looks like the smaller duckling might be a boy, too.

Smaller duckling

Big Brother

Last week, several new broods were seen. A mother duck had nine ducklings and took them through the "gull gauntlet" without losing any that day.

A few days later, there were only three left. After that, I didn't see them at all.

Another mom had two ducklings in another area, one of which was acting a big strange. I thought maybe he was having seizures.

Mom didn't like this young pied-billed grebe swimming around near her babies. I've never seen a grebe actually grab a duckling, but they are certainly capable of it. Mostly, I see them with small fish and crayfish.

A couple days later, the duckling that looked like he was having seizures was perfectly fine.

Here is the other duckling. After that day, I didn't see them anymore.

Another mom had seven ducklings in the same area. I didn't see her when she had seven, but I saw her with five a few days later.

Then, she had only four. Here are two of them:

Here are the other two. I didn't see them a few days later.

Sissy, who has been missing along with her sister, Pumpkin, surprised me today with three big ducklings.

Pumpkin has been missing for over six weeks, but that's not unusual for her this time of year. I hope she's OK.

A few random bird pics from Lake Murray

Just a few random bird pictures today.  I saw no shorebirds at all, nor have I see the scaup, yet.  I know there are a few down here in the San Diego area, just not at this lake.  However, there are more coots there now that I've ever seen before.

I haven't been taking many pictures because it's been really dark and cloudy in the morning, so the light is bad.

Here is a gull doing a courtship call to another gull a few feet away.

This ring-billed gull has some sort of tumor or weird feather growth.  It doesn't seem to be bothering him and when he shakes his head, it wiggles lightly.  He is full of energy, but it looks like he swallowed a golf ball.

Fancy-foot pigeon.  There were actually a few of them there.  I didn't see the racing pigeon, though I heard there was a strange looking pigeon who died there.  However, the racing pigeon really didn't look all that strange, kinda like this one.

Song sparrow with some kind of insect in its mouth:

Little Trouble:

And, the male ruddy ducks are following around the female teal again:

Hooded merganser at Lake Murray and other birds

I arrived at Lake Murray before sunrise, but there was a full moon, so it wasn't too dark:

I saw this weird gull.  It wasn't that big, but I think it might be a western gull.  Those are the most common gulls around the lake right now.  But, someone's been spotting a glaucous-winged gull which I can't find.

I've noticed that the scaups and ruddy ducks are hanging out closer to shore lately.  I think it was because there were so many on the lake.  The numbers seem to have gone down a little:

Beautiful male American wigeon:

Here are two of them:

Wait, what was that thing with the crested red head behind them?

It's a female hooded merganser!

It's the first time I've seen one there, though they have been spotted at other lakes in the area:

I'd like to mention that Baby Blue has been walking around with an enlarged crop.  I hope it's not the beginning of an impacted crop.  It seems soft and flexible, so it might not be impacted.  I think he's going over across the lake and pigging out on someone's bread before he comes back to where I usually see him.  It seemed better this morning, but still worrisome: