With smaller lakes in the area already frozen and the larger lakes beginning to ice up many more ducks are sure to start appearing at the Fish Pond. The pond and streams that run through it will soon be some of the only open water in the north.

While Mallards are a year round sight at the pond the other species that summer and breed here are long gone. Mergansers and Common Goldeneye are now regulars here and several other types that are migrating ahead of the ice have been randomly appearing.

The Common Goldeneye is one of the heartiest of ducks. They are usually the last to migrate south in the fall and the first to head north again in the spring. I was surprised to read that they prefer lakes and ponds that have little or no fish in them. Since their diet consists of many of the same items as fish lakes where there are fewer of them means it is easier for the ducks to find food.

As with all ducks it is very hard to get a good in flight picture of them here at the pond. The topography and plant life limit the light for most of the day. It amazes me that a moderate shutter speed will freeze the motion of the wheel on a 180 mph racecar but won’t capture a clear picture of a ducks wing in motion. Those feathers truly do fly.

This winter I think I will try to get pictures of as many different kinds of ducks as I can. Who knows what might show up after Lake Michigan freezes over.

So put on your winter best and get outside. See if you can find something that only visits or occurs in the winter. You might be surprised at what you discover.

Have a great one.

Kevin