Pintails and More
Things are heating up over at the Two Mile Ponds along Ocean Drive, although the huge numbers of Black Ducks that were hanging out there before the snows have thinned out a bit.  Most of the ice on the ponds has melted away, but new storms are predicted for later this week.  This morning I walked out the new Boardwalk/Marsh Trail, still snow-covered but easily passable. 
   I stopped several times along the trail to scan the ponds through the brown phrag, which has been beaten down pretty severely by the snows.  The usual gang of Pintails whistled over in the far corner near the land trap (see photo above); Buffleheads, Blacks, and a few Mallards dabbled there, too.  A breeding-plumage Hooded Merganser and his crazy-haired bride circled around lovingly like they were ready to rent a room at the StarLux.  The male Hooded has my vote as the most beautiful winter duck around here, although  there's much to be said for breeding-plumage Red-breasted Mergs and of course the occasional Harlequin out on the ocean. 
   A couple of drake Green-wing Teal paddled around also, no mate in sight, and a couple of Killdeer were feeding in the mudflats. Yay, Spring! Lol, jk.  If you decide to head over there soon, please don't walk all the way out to the end of the boardwalk right away.  You will surely spook all the ducks as soon as you round the last bend.  Take your time, stop often along the boards and scan.
   One of my reader(s) told me today that blogging about my backyard is a pretty poor substitute for going afield, and I agree.  He very kindly pointed out at least a dozen little-known but potentially good birding trails on Refuge land, and even provided me with a map (of sorts).  Accordingly, my next reports will be from Kimbles Beach and the trails at the Refuge Office. I hear the Bluebirds are thick there. Then on to Bucks Ave. and the new Braddock Tract property, where I am "guaranteed" to see wild turkeys.  And if I get lost, I know who to call.

 

   On the Thursday before the latest Storm of the Century of the Week began, Kurt Bond from State DFW and  I checked the Black Duck land trap along Ocean Drive around 5pm. I scanned the ponds and saw at least 500 black ducks, most of which were sitting on the edge of the ice about 100 yards from the road.  There were also good numbers of Widgeons, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers, Mallards, Canada Geese and Brant.  Four Pied-billed Grebes were diving right at the culvert under Ocean Drive, and have been regular visitors there for the past week or so.  A pair of Gadwalls fed in the creek on the north side of the road. 
   It was just starting to get dark, but from the road we could see at least one duck in the trap.  As we got closer, it turned out to be three pintails, two drakes and a hen.  We managed to corral them into the removable basket and checked them out.  Kurt showed me some of the individual feathers on the wing that showed the difference between adult and juvenile Pintails.  These subtle differences in shading and color were hard for me to see even with the bird in my hand, and must be almost impossible to spot from a distance by even expert birders.  Before we let them go, we took a couple photos which I will post as soon as I get them from Kurt.  This was my first "Duck in the Hand."  It was certainly worth two in the bush.