Fall Migration Underway

This past week has literally been the "week of the duck". Yes, it's the annual fall migration of different species to warmer places. In this picture is the Common Merganser, the Common Goldeneye, and the Bufflehead. And of course the winter float marker!

It's interesting to watch how ducks want to climb up on the rock and will circle the rock until they get a chance to find a spot. Here the Common Merganser is holding a prime resting spot so the others must wait their turn. Later in the week, we had a Common Merganser come in real close to shore and just float in the one spot for about fifteen minutes while it watched our onshore winter birds at the feeders.

There have been several flocks of up to twenty birds further out on the lake during the week, including a large flock of Mallards which are fairly uncommon to this area.