Copyright ©2020 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
When it was snowing last week my neighbor and I took our cameras for a walk and had a lovely couple of hours birding our own neighborhood. We’ve been keeping 6 feet apart and she’s in my very small group of contacts that I am seeing as we get through this pandemic.
These are Lesser Scaups that migrate and winter here. There are currently several pairs staying in a couple of the ponds at the golf course that meander through our community.
They are in the dipping/diving duck family and are the most abundant diving duck in North America.
I have no idea how much longer they’re going to be here, but I’ve enjoyed seeing them here.
This is a group of both males and females that got skittish as we got closer to their end of the pond.
Going for walks when I can have been great for my mind and spirit. I hope you’re all finding ways to keep your spirits up during this self-distancing and quarantine time.
We’ll get through this! 🥰
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more to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
Such gorgeous photos of these ducks, Deborah. It makes me laugh to consider my photographs of these same birds! LOL
I think they’ll be leaving here soon. I’m not seeing them in numbers anymore.
Thank you so much, Melissa!
Never having heard of the word scaup, I turned to the American Heritage Dictionary for the origin of the word: “Short for scaup-duck, perhaps from Scots scalp, scaup, bed of mussels (from its feeding on shellfish).”
I never knew where it came either! Thank you for filling me in.
Spending time in nature also keeps my spirits up. Around here, it is exceptionally quiet except for the birds. I don’t know whether it is my imagination and Spring is here, although it feels like more birds are claiming their home in the trail close to our house. Beautiful photos, Deborah! Take care.
Thank you so much, Erica! That trail near your place sounds delightful!
Nice captures of your feathered friends! Glad to hear you are getting out … it surely helps with our current situation! Take care.
Thank you so much, Denise!
So that’s what a scaup is. Beautiful photos, Deborah. Thanks for sharing this outing with us. Stay happy and sassy. Hugs on the wing!
Thank you so much, Teagan! You stay happy and healthy too! xx
Handsome feathered friends you have here. Glad you went for a walk. Stay safe.
Thank you, Judy! I hope you are too!
I love that last photo of the birds in flight. Beautiful!
Thank you so much, Joanne! It’s so long since I was able to get a bird in flight image just hand-holding my camera and lens! I was doing my happy dance that it came out half decent. 😀
I love that group-in-flight photo, Deborah. I’ve never seen these guys (that I remember). Thanks for sharing and I’m glad to see you’re doing well.
Stay safe and take care.
Thank you so much, Dan! I hope you see these guys one day. Hoping you stay safe and well as well!
Beautifully captured, Deborah!
Thank you so much, Donna!
Lovely, Deborah! Thank goodness spring has arrived and we can get outside. 😀
Yes to getting outside! Thank you so much, Jennie!
You’re welcome, Deborah! 🙂
These are lovely! We see no ducks on our city neighbourhood walks😏. So your photos are much appreciated!
I’m so glad you enjoyed seeing them from here then. 😀 Thank you, Belinda!
Great captures, Deborah. I love that hint of iridescent green on their cheek. The birds are all around and singing each morning about their delight of springtime. The bluebird and cardinals are my favorite. I guess I love showy birds. 🙂
I love the birds of color too. I won’t complain about you favoring the showy ones more. 😀
Your deck and swing sound lovely!
Nice shots Deborah. Where’s the ‘like’ button gone?
Thank you so much, Brian! I see the like button and several others must because they’ve liked the post. I can’t explain why you’re not seeing it?
I’m glad you told me about the issue I’ll keep an eye on it.
Great captures, Deborah! I’ll never remember the names of birds so you’ll have to be bird dictionary! Lucky you can see nice natural settings on your walks; all I get are crowded cars at the street curbs and closed shops! Take care!
Thank you so much, Gordon! Truthfully, I had to look this one up to get the ID because I can never remember anything other than the Greater Scaup is larger, but their head shapes are a little different too. I can’t keep it straight who is who. I mix up Clark’s and Western Grebes too. I have to look them up because one has the black eyebrow coming over its eye and the other doesn’t. I’m not a birding dictionary on a lot of birds. I’ve just learned enough to know I need to look up which type it is on this bird. 😀
Beautiful photos. I didn’t know that they were called Lesser Scaups.
Lovely photos of the ducks, Deborah. Thank you.