Ducks on Ice, Episode #3 - Redhead!

February 2, 2024

Sunrise, January 29, 2023

Hello friends! As of Thursday morning, the lake is still 90% frozen, but the ice is getting thinner. Pretty amazing because it’s been the 50s and 60s with sunshine all week. That ice was THICK. Probably the thickest ice I’ve seen in 11 years of doing this!

Today I introduce you to “special guest” #1, the redhead! I don’t see many redheads and when I do they are usually way out in the lake. During our little ice capade adventure, one popped in to the marina. He was there very (very!) briefly, but let me take a few photos while he hung around:

Honestly, he is so beautiful! That red is just stunning.

Posing for me with a side view

He came in really close but he was in the shadow so this was super high ISO, but still I think it’s fascinating to see him up closer.

Redheads are a little smaller than mallards.

Or maybe a lot smaller than mallards.

Also a lot bigger than pied-billed grebes!

When he went on alert I knew he’d take off. I rarely know what makes them suddenly go on alert.

And there he goes, but at least he was nice enough to take off in a direction I could photograph!

A running start

And we have liftoff.

I didn't see what made him take off, but some of the culprits who were making birds fly from time to time are sitting in these trees. Do you see all three young eagles?

Many more ducks to come, as well as more ice pictures! Winter photography can really be so much fun. Thank you all for being here and for supporting what I do!