Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

The double-crested cormorants have returned for another year.  At Jenney Pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  There was a flock of around 30 double-crested cormorants swimming in the pond.  Some birds took off and flew away, and others came and landed back on the pond.  Because we are getting into the breeding season, the Double-crested Cormorants at developing the black crests on the head, which gave them their name.  The crests disappear after breeding season.  The Double-crested Cormorants feathers on their body and wings are a lighter brown and ringed with black.  Their eyes are aquamarine in color and a very sparkling.

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

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Birding along with Bufflehead Courtship

Today I traveled back to Jenney Pond with my colleague Doug for both of us to do birding and, of course, I will do some photography.  Because of illnesses and other events, Doug and I have not been out since probably late last year.

Besides getting a nice photograph of a Great Blue Heron with its reflection in the blue tone water because the sky was overcast.

Great Blue Heron with Reflection

I spent a lot of my time photographing the courtship behavior of the Bufflehead. The hen would fly down the pond and land and the drakes would follow behind and try to get the hen interested in themselves. The drakes would also chase other drakes to keep them away from the hen.  There was a lot of activity on the water and in the air with the Bufflehead's flying.

Drake Bufflehead, Chasing a Hen Bufflehead

Drake Bufflehead, Chasing a Hen Bufflehead

Drake Bufflehead Running Take off

Drake Bufflehead Landing

Drake Bufflehead, Chasing a Drake Bufflehead

Drake Bufflehead Flapping

Hen Bufflehead in Flight

Two Pairs of Bufflehead, Swimming Quietly

We also birded besides Jenny Pond, Plymouth Harbor, Nelson Beach, Long Beach, and Manomet Point.  At those places, the majority of birds were too far out to take photographs.  In total, we came up with about 35 different species, which for around two hours was not bad.  The weather temperature was in the mid-30s, the sky, clouded up and the wind picked up, especially when we were out and Manomet Point, probably brought the wind chill down into the 20s.

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Plymouth, Massachusetts Bird Photography

Hooded Merganser and Gadwall

It was a beautiful morning and the kids and I return to Plymouth first starting at Jenney Pond.  As usual, most of the pond was iced but there was enough open water and the usual species of ducks were present.  Most of the fun were watching the interaction between ducks.  drake bufflehead chasing drake bufflehead or hen bufflehead listening to hooting call of the drake hooded mergansers and watching the hooded mergansers puff out their throats and open the mouth and call.

Drake Bufflehead Being Chased by Another Drake Bufflehead

Drake Bufflehead Being Chased by Another Drake Bufflehead

Drake Bufflehead Flapping

Drake Bufflehead chasing a hen

Hooded Mergansers Calling

You Can Look Right down the Throat of This Hooded Merganser

At Jenney's Pond, normally, a lot of people of feeding the ducks bread, which we know is not good nourishment for him.  So when we come we always bring some crack corn so at least it will get some better food plus it makes for some interesting the photos as the birds fly in and as they all gather around to eat.  The drake mallards were frisky today and fighting with one another.

Incoming Mallard

Mallard Fight

The pair of swans left and then came flying back in given us another opportunity for some bird in flight shots.

Mute Swans Landing

I finished my shooting at the harbor where I was able to capture the Icelandic gull by itself, and in flight.

Icelandic Gull

Icelandic Gull

My Meetup group NANPA Meetup group of Eastern Massachusetts will be photographing the waterfowl at Jenney's Pond on February 14 starting at 7 AM.  Any of my readers is welcome to join by signing up on the Meetup page http://www.meetup.com/NANPA-Nature-Photography-Group_of_Eastern-Massachusetts/

Jenny Pond and an Iceland Gull

Gadwall Taking Off

Since we have had a spell of cold weather and the ponds around here are starting to get ice, I decided to visit Jenney Pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts.  The reason for that is that the back side of the pond freezes and where the stream runs into the pond and leaves at the other end.  It causes the waterfowl to congregate closer and makes them easier to photograph.

There was enough action to make for some nice photographs with ducks flying in, flying out, plus flapping after bathing.  In fact, if the weather continues to stay cold.  This usually increases the concentration of waterfowl and species that are available in the area.  In fact, I am planning to take my Meetup group NANPA Photographers of Eastern Massachusetts, for a photo shoot.

Pair of Gadwalls

Gadwall Landing

Mallard Pair Together

Mallard Landing

After photographing at Jenney Pond.  We went down to the harbor, to the boat launching ramp which is behind East Bay Grill and was able to photograph the Iceland Gull that has been returning for many years.  We had to search all the gulls until we found the one that had white feathers at the tip of its wings.

Iceland Gull

Despite starting off in the high teens, with no wind and warming up to the 40s.  It was a beautiful day to be outside.

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Another Beautiful Day

Black-capped Chickadee Feeding on Pinecones

It is a beautiful Monday morning, Doug, Jenner and I started off at Jenney Pond in Plymouth, Massachusetts birding and photographing.  Besides the usual mallards, Canada geese and swans.  There was a large variety of passerine's.  The passerine's were very busy moving around and feeding on the seeds that were present as well as the seeds that were in the pinecones.  We saw four different species of woodpeckers but were only able to get photographs of the downy woodpecker and the Flickr.  We were happy when we saw one of the pastor means in the open, otherwise they were hiding in all the reads or in the evergreens keeping themselves hidden.  In total, we had 25 species of different birds at Jenney pond.  We will have to see what the rest of the fall and winter will bring.

American Goldfinch

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Blue Jay

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker

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Morning at Plymouth

Black-bellied Plover

It was a cool, clear morning today and we set off for Plymouth, Massachusetts to see what there was to photograph.  First stop was at Nelson Beach with the tide was out.  The prominent bird species were gulls.  There were also a half dozen black-bellied plovers running on the beach.  One of the objects I photographed, was seaweed.  Normally when the tide is out you find the seaweed just laying flat on the ground.  Today, however, there was a small tidal pool with green seaweed standing upright and waving in the pool.

Green Seawee d Waving in the Water

We then traveled down to the harbor where except for a rare gull.  Nothing was present, not even the usual large flock of rock pigeons.

Our next stop was Jenney's Pond, where again, the common birds were Canada geese and mallards.  We also found a mallard hybrid.  Looking at this bird.  It is hard to say what was the other species involved in making up the hybrid besides the mallard.  Looking at the picture, the eye is very pale.  I wonder if there was an injury to it.

Hybrid Mallard

Canada Goose Flapping

Mallard Being Chased by a Mallard

Great Blue Heron Sitting at the Edge of the Pond

We finished off the morning at Manomet point, where the only species that were seen were Cormorants and gulls. There were no seals or waterfowl anywhere in sight.

But as I have said before a day out photographing is better than a day in front of the desk. <

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