Plymouth Massachusetts

Ring-necked Duck Hen flapping after preening

It is Tuesday, March 25, 2014, Doug and I went birding and I as usual photographed some of the findings  in Plymouth Massachusetts. The morning was cold but there was no wind and with the sun shining it was comfortable. We were dressed in appropriate clothing and really did not need most of the time heavy gloves. Besides photographs to determine and prove what species we seen I also looked for activity rather than just confirmation photographs. I obtained a number of photographs showing many waterfowl preening and diving for food.

Mute Swan preening

Three Bufflehead drakes in various stages of preening

Bufflehead Drake

Northern Cardinal Singing in the sun

Brown-headed Cowbirds

Great Blue Heron

Beaver feeding at the shoreline of Jenney Pond

Approximately a year ago at Plymouth Pilgrim State Park we had a canvasback way out in the bay. This year the canvasback was feeding right around the Mayflower II. At one point I was hoping to get it in the reflection of the Mayflower, however, it was halfway into the reflection when the canvasback dove and then came up in the blue water rather in the brownish reflection.

Canvasback half and half

Canvasback

 It was a great morning and now we are preparing far the winter storm that is supposed to occur tomorrow. However by the weekend the temperatures post arise and probably all the snow will be gone by then. Remember this is New England and the weather changes very frequently. It is interesting this year I was warmer in Alberta Canada than the temperature was back home in Massachusetts. Remember spring is here and enjoy the change of season and the beginning of new life.

Here is an interesting hybrid, a american black duck and a gadwall. this duck was swimming with an american black duck

Hybrid Duck

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus)

Muskrat feeding in Jenney Pond

When you visit wetlands along rivers, lakes and ponds one of the interesting creatures that you may see is the muskrat. Muskrats are a medium-sized semi-aquatic rodent that is native to North America. It also has been introduced into parts of Europe, Asia and South America. Muskrats play a very important role in the ecology of wetlands. The eat almost any aquatic vegetation as well as some field crops that are adjacent to suitable habitat. Preferred natural foods include cattails, pickle weed, bulrush, smart weed, duck potato, horsetail, waterlily and other aquatic plants. Normally, when they see a person they will swim away or dive under the water. I have found when the muskrat is actively eating that it will give you a better chance to watch and photograph. They will use their claws like hands to put the vegetation into the mouth which they eat with their strong rodent teeth.

Muskrat feeding Daniel Webster Audubon Sanctuary

Muskrat feeding Daniel Webster Audubon Sanctuary

If you are interested in purchasing a print or need one of the pictures as a download, please go to my website www. photobee1.com.   All photographs from the internet will be in the Internet Gallery.  If you do not see the print there that you are interested in, just send me an email with the information of what picture you would like.