The roads in the local state park are still snow covered and some are closed. I decided to go walk the beach down by the lake to see if anything was hiding out. It was very quiet. Every once in a while, the eerie creaking and snapping of the melting ice would pierce the silence.
The first birds that I noticed were the numerous Great Blue Herons fishing from the edges of the ice.
Great Blue Heron
As I made it down to the water's edge, I noticed a flocks of gulls standing on the ice. Some took flight at my appearance. An initial scan of the flock revealed only Ring-billed Gulls. I continued to walk the water's edge.
With a ruckus, a group of gulls took flight. I could notice that they were fighting over something as they flew overhead. I guess they felt that they had to share their find, as they dropped this right in front of me:
Catfish head
I continued on. I could hear a tapping sound behind me, so I turned around to find this Herring Gull pecking at a fish under the ice.
It managed to pull the fish from the ice. This got the attention of the nearby Ring-billed Gulls.
Hey buddy, this shad is mine!
I am always surprised at the response of local birders in reference to my seeing Herring Gulls in the winter. I have run into at least one in almost every trip here this winter so far.
Heading towards the car, I heard the birds giving a ruckus. I figured there must be a raptor close by and I was right. This Cooper's Hawk was staring right at me.
Heading towards the car, I heard the birds giving a ruckus. I figured there must be a raptor close by and I was right. This Cooper's Hawk was staring right at me.
Cooper's Hawk
The sun only came out for a short time today while I was out, only to succumb to the gray clouds again. So it is I leave you with this picture of two male Canvasback ducks in the setting sun from the other day.
