Signs of fall waterfowl migration

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.

Squeak and Pollux's Babies (with photos)

Pollux and Chick

Squeak and Pollux's chicks are now almost a month old.  They should be flying in about a week to ten days.  This is actually the first time I've gotten a good look a them.  I think two of them might be females and one really tiny one might be a male.  This one female was really bold and didn't seem to mind me taking her picture.

At one time, when I was taking pictures, Squeak "growled" at me to get me to look at her so that her chicks can get away.

I think this is a photos of Miracle, across the lake:

 I'm not sure who this is, but he/she has a spotted chest band like Georgina did:

The two "sisters" of the duck that was rescued a few days ago are still alive, but are still hanging around where they were dropped off.

I forced them into the water so that they could get a drink of water as they appeared dehydrated.  They even found a little algae to eat.  But, within a few minutes, they were back at their spot.

Bossy was seen and he's still has a ring!  I don't know where it was all this time.  It looks like if he gives it one more push, he can get it off.  Either that or this is a new ring.

I saw this "stumpy" duck with a folded up tail.  He looks like Stubby, one of Cinnamon's boyfriends.  Perhaps they're related.

These are the ducklings from the 10 that hatched in early April.  There are two left, but the third one might still be around.  Later, when I came back, the mom was all alone.  So, I think that these ducklings are probably staying on their own more often.

I think this is "mama's little weakling", the one that I thought wouldn't make it the first day.

Fish Food Mama still has her five babies:

When I first arrived this morning, I saw the red-shouldered hawk attack the family, but mom managed to distract it and all five (and mom) got away.  I haven't seen the hawk since.  I have a feeling that that type of thing probably happens several times a day every day to this family.  I hope nothing happens to the mom as these babies would be doomed to be orphaned at this age.

I didn't see the mom with three.  I saw the juvenile herons with something that looked like a duckling about the size of the five above, but it might have also been a squirrel.

Good morning baby killdeer and coyotes

When I came to the lake this morning, I was greeted by a bunch of ducks and squirrels waiting to get fed and a small pack of coyotes.  The coyotes were attracted to the ducks waiting in the area for the people who usually come to feed them.

When I went to another area, I was shocked to find Squeak and Pollux who promptly did broken wing acts at me, so I know their chicks are there, though I didn't see or hear them at that time.

Squeak

Pollux, trying to hide

 Later, though, I went back to the ballfields and Squeak immediately ran up to me and laid down.

Pollux was in the field doing broken wing acts (sorta):

Squeak watched through the fence as I took pictures of Pollux:

All three of their chicks were heard afterward when they calmed down and began to call to them.

I found a new mama duck today.  I think this one might be a Flycatcher mama and the mother of last year's "Friendly Ducklings".  She had six of them:

The mom with five ducklings still has five including the really friendly one that was limping last time I saw him.  He wasn't limping today.  I think this is Peaches, Caramel and Butterscotch's mom, Fish Food Mama.

She's got one really independent duckling that is really friendly.  Here, he's trying to eat a rubber worm lure that a fisherman left behind.  I got it away from him.

Here he is, swimming by himself.

He is in the back of this group:

I also saw a Bullock's oriole, resident in this area.  He didn't give me a good chance at getting his photo:

And, a green heron who seemed to be really interested in something in the reeds.  I think it was another green heron, perhaps his mate or chick:

A word about "Neo":

Neo was spotted today, all alone, without his mother.  He came out, got something to eat and drink, went into a brushy area and disappeared.  I looked, but could not find him anywhere after that.  This is the last good photo I got of him almost a week ago.  He hasn't grown at all, but is starting to get his feathers.  I don't know where his mom went to, but I hope she was nearby as he is still vulnerable to many predators.  Otherwise, he is healthy and energetic.  I have named him "Neo Eht" for now.  He is now 3 1/2 weeks old and only alive because of his will to do so and nothing else.