I hit the lakefront in Milwaukee early this morning. I stopped at the beaches and marinas and not much was happening. I stopped at Lakeshore State Park and did a walk through and stumbled across 3 Snow Bunting that hung around for about 1 second. I checked the pond area and it had a few Greater Scaups and in them was the female Long-tailed Duck that Todd had reported yesterday. I watched it for awhile and they were all actively feeding most of the time I was present. The Long-tailed Duck being smaller still got very pushy around the scaups. I watched something interesting happen and I captured it some what on camera. The ducks where all hanging out a scattered group and the Long-tailed Duck takes off, does a 180 for about 200 feet, bolts like a bullet, then settles down. The scaups follow it but at a slower pace. Only thing I could figure out is that a very large fish had went for the duck. I saw nothing above that could have startled that poor duck! Most ducks I have seen in one place so far this season. 2 Pied-billed Grebes and Double-crested Cormorants were also present at the park. A fun day out, wind was cool, mostly cloudy I would say. The winds were picking up when I left. Images were taken on December 10, 2015.
Long-tailed Duck, female
Long-tailed Duck
Binomial name: Clangula hyemalis
Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Size: 16.5” long, 28” wing span
Weight: 1.6 lb
Cool Fact: This duck was once known as Oldsquaw
Long-tailed Duck, female, thinking about making the dive!
Long-tailed Duck, female, still thinking about making the dive!
Long-tailed Duck, female, making the dive
Long-tailed Duck, female, making the dive
Long-tailed Duck, female, done!
Pied-billed Grebe
Greater Scaup, female adult
Greater Scaup, male adult
Long-tailed Duck, female, stretching
Long-tailed Duck, female, stretching
Long-tailed Duck, female, stretching
Long-tailed Duck, female, stretching
Long-tailed Duck, female
Long-tailed Duck, female
Long-tailed Duck, female
Greater Scaup, male adult
Greater Scaup, female adult
Long-tailed Duck, female just hanging out with the scaups
Long-tailed Duck, female was thinking about stretching but did not
Something startles the Long-tailed Duck!
Duck does 180! Long-tailed Duck is startled and takes off like a bullet!
The Long-tailed Duck is on the move doing 180!
The Long-tailed Duck is on the move, still getting turned around
And away the duck goes!
Still going!
Still going and the scaups have joined in on the exit!
And still going!
Still going!
And after a couple hundred feet it settles down, I can only think it was a fish?
Quick shot of a distant Snow Bunting at the park
Once again, you’ve captured the beauty of nature. Thanks for sharing!
Your pics are just breathtaking . Thanks.