Is migration starting up. ?

[gpsman]

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I’m seeing some new visitors to Great Meadows in concord, MA the Hooded Merganser and a pair of Wood Ducks. Anyone else see any newcomers?

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[dupcak]

I'm a bit south of there (Framingham) and have seen hooded mergansers all winter - just no where near close enough to get a decent shot, so I'm jealous! I've also never had the pleasure of seeing any wood ducks... ever. So now I'm doubly jealous. According to ebird.com, the wood ducks should be more prevalent in March so you aren't just imagining things.

Not that you asked, but with respect to the photos - the wood duck photo looks tilted to me, but love the male/combination. The merganser shot is great with the reflection - just wish the eye were a tad bit sharper.

 

[DripDryMcFleye]

Saw the first two wood ducks of this year about a week ago here in south east Michigan. They were both males and extremely skittish.

 

[gpsman]

Hi dupcak: Good to notice the slant on the wood ducks. The ducks are straight, evident by the neck being about vertical. The nesting box is actually on a slant. I'll try and work on the eye of the Merganser. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[Woody Meristem]

Here in northcentral Pennsylvania the wood ducks, hooded mergansers, widgeon, pintails, ring-necked ducks and shovelers are back in moderate numbers. Yesterday I flushed about 50 wood ducks from a dense shrub wetland after photographing the few I could see.

 

[MrFotoFool]

@gpsman Did you mean to post this in the critique forum?

 

[JAS]

We visited Horican Marsh NWR, Wisconsin yesterday. We saw Tundra Swans, Trumpeter Swans, Canada geese, White-fronted Geese, Sandhill Cranes, a tree full of Red-winged Blackbirds, Mallards, Pintails and a few other duck types, plus the local resident turkeys. All on a single stretch of country road next to the Refuge. Pretty amazing. Still processing the 2000+ photos. Great start to Spring out here!

 

[dupcak]

Hi dupcak: Good to notice the slant on the wood ducks. The ducks are straight, evident by the neck being about vertical. The nesting box is actually on a slant. I'll try and work on the eye of the Merganser. Thanks for the feedback.

Makes sense to me - I'll have to head up to Great Meadows at some point - seems like a great space

 

[gpsman]

I had to add this pic. “And baby makes 3”. The cutest pic I have ever taken.

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[gpsman]

@gpsman Did you mean to post this in the critique forum?

Probably should be in wildlife but critiques are always accepted. Thanks for the reminder.

 

[jfredrick]

That last image is "cute"! Nice catch! These images look soft to me. Are they heavy crops?

 

[gpsman]

That last image is "cute"! Nice catch! These images look soft to me. Are they heavy crops?

Hey jfredrick:
They are all cropped a bit. I keep a ratio of 5x7 for greeting cards. So softness doesn’t affect my end game. Thanks for the feedback though.

 

[Patty15]

Here in northcentral Pennsylvania the wood ducks, hooded mergansers, widgeon, pintails, ring-necked ducks and shovelers are back in moderate numbers. Yesterday I flushed about 50 wood ducks from a dense shrub wetland after photographing the few I could see.

Here in western PA, it's the same along with Horned Grebes and Buffleheads.

 

[Blufftonian]

So that’s where our hoodies went.

We have them wintering in South Carolina from about late November to early/mid March. Ours all left within the last week or so.