Best of 2015 - 1

While browsing among the year's photos looking for calendar shots I began to think that some of the year's posts were worth a second look and since I tend to be a bit housebound during the winter I'm going to finish this year by a little retrospective. Above is a Double Crested Cormorant photographed in March 2015 at Swan Lake. I like this photo because it shows some aspects of this cormorant that I rarely see. The beautifully mottled feather markings are particularly visible as is the red around the beak and the remarkable emerald eyes. Usually when I see cormorants all I see is a large black bird flying low over the water. This photo reminds me that they are actually quite spectacular. As far as the Mallard Drake to the right is concerned, I like how close up it is, how you can see right into his eye. Mallards always look so peaceful and happy.

Ducks and Pumpkins

AT this time of year many of the low-lying fields in Saanich are flooded and provide perfect winter quarters for a wide variety of waterfowl. Here is a Mitchell Farms pumpkin field and a flock of Mallard Ducks.

Up Close and Personal

I went out to Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary on Wednesday to see what birds were there. I saw a very nice assortment though nothing unusual - Ring-necked Duck, Double-crested Cormorant, Lesser Scaup, Spotted Towhee, Red-winged Blackbirds, Sparrows of several kinds, Downy Woodpecker, Anna's Hummingbird, American Coot, Bufflehead Duck, a Yellow-rumped Warbler and a Marsh Wren. The Mallard Ducks at Swan Lake are very friendly and the drake above posed so photogenically in his new breeding plumage that I couldn't resist taking a dozen photos of him.

Three's Company

Out at Swan Lake yesterday I enjoyed this trio catching some rays.

Lazy Days

The cruising Mallard Duck and the snoozing Western Painted Turtle above perfectly embody the scene these days at Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary. Time to lie down on a log and get toasted!

Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)

Here's a kind of duck I too often ignore because they are so common and live here all year round. They are Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos), the female on the left above and the male on the right. They are a widespread species and one that has adapted well to living around humans - that's why we see so many of them. They are attractive ducks and it is always a pleasure to see them peacefully dabbling in the shallows.

Duckling

A couple of small pools in the Abkhazi Garden are home to this little fellow and about eight brothers and sisters, all looking equally chipper. Mom and Dad Mallard were in attendance too as their brood took to the water.

Mr. Mallard

Above is probably the most common duck in this area and a year-round resident. Consequently I often ignore them because they are so tame and ubiquitous. Nevertheless Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) of both genders are very attractive ducks. Above is a head and shoulders portrait of a Mallard drake.

Hard Landings

I visited Swan Lake Nature Sanctuary several times in the spring and summer so I decided to see what kinds of birds it had to offer at this time of year. The Inner Harbor is hosting flocks of Mergansers - both hooded and Common, American Wigeons, Buffleheads and lots of Mallards. I didn't see any Mergansers, Buffleheads or Wigeons at Swan Lake but there were plenty of Mallards being very charming and tame. I wonder why Mallards seem to be so much more trusting than other ducks that reside in human habitats? As well as the ubiquitous Mallards there were some Ring-necked Ducks and some American Coots. But the woods surrounding the lake seemed almost empty of birds in comparison to spring and summer when the Red-winged Blackbirds and other songbirds fill the air with their chirps and warbles. Most of the lake was covered with a thin sheet of ice as in the photo above.

Duck Days

Lots of rain here these days. It makes it a challenge to take photos outdoors since the camera gets dangerously wet almost immediately. However, while walking through the grounds of the Dockside Green condo development this afternoon I couldn't resist taking a shot of these guys looking perfectly comfortable in their classy rain gear.

Couples

The days are getting longer now and we've probably had our last snow of the year (last week) but the temperatures are still hovering around freezing. Despairing of going for a swim in Beacon Hill Park's Goodacre Lake, the couple below opted to go for a walk.

Beacon Hill Park

Just across the street from South Park School is Beacon Hill Park, a favorite weekend walk of Victorians of all species, including this Mallard duck. His mate was nearby but was much too coy to allow a photograph. This, I promise, will be the last cherry tree in bloom you will see until next spring.