Migrant Ducks Rest in Small Pond on Way North

Mixed migrant flock resting on small pond near Apple Valley includes a male scaup (black-and-white, second or third from left) and canvasback ducks (flock on right, males red-white-and-black).  (Photo by Don Comis)

In the middle of the flock of canvasback ducks, I spotted a probable male northern shoveler, distinguished by the rufous color on his side.  (Photo by Don Comis)

A male northern shoveler takes flight, likely with his mate, while a male mallard and male northern shoveler swim peacefully.  (Photo by Don Comis)

Before going grocery shopping in Mt. Vernon this afternoon, I stopped by Apple Valley Lake and took another look at some of the interesting waterfowl showing up there lately--loons, pie-billed grebes, horned grebes, and hooded mergansers.  My friends, Debbie Hurlbert and Jon Minard, could name more.

They happened by on their bird patrol as I was taking photos the other day at the Lake's dam and spillway and identified the horned grebes for me. Jon, a long-time eagle watcher, also told me he's been seeing an adult pair of bald eagles on the lake, sounding like he thinks they'll build a nest next year nearby.  Although there are plenty of eagles in the area and some that frequent the lake, there aren't any nesting along the lakeshore.

They also alerted me to a mixed flock of migrant ducks at a small pond near a strip mall just outside of the entrance to the Apple Valley development.  The ducks include redheads, canvasbacks, and scaups.  The redheads and scaups are headed back to the the western United States, Alaska, and northwestern Canada; and the canvasbacks are going to Canada and northwestern United States.

I checked out that pond again today, too.  The flock was much smaller than the 65 I counted days ago, but there was still diversity.  I'm pretty sure I saw four northern shovelers, the first I've seen, at least by myself, three males and one female. I also counted 8 canvasbacks (5 males and 3 females) and 3 scaups (2 males and 1 female).  I think the canvasbacks are more strikingly beautiful than the redheads.

The northern shovelers are resting on their journey back to America's West, Alaska, and northwestern Canada.

As I neared home, I saw what I think was a Great Blue Heron flying overhead, which would be my first heron sighting in a long time.

Hope for Salamander Migration Soon

One of the first salamanders I've captured and learned to photograph as they "escape" the container I place them in.  I photographed this northern red on July 28, 2013, along Little Jelloway Creek near Apple Valley.  (Photo by Don Comis)

Probably the first frog I've photographed successfully.  This northern leopard frog was quite a ham, once I learned I couldn't use the salamander release trick to photograph him or her.  He would just jump out of sight when the container was opened.  So I just followed him along the banks of the Kokosing River in Millwood, Ohio, until he "froze",  hoping I wouldn't see him.  (Photographed on August 7, 2013 by Don Comis)

Jim McCormac's blog last night gave me hope that I still have a shot at seeing the mass migration of salamanders to vernal pools where they mate and lay eggs.  He confirms that this tough winter has delayed the mass migration, while individual salamanders and frogs have made the trip.

But the mass migration triggered by the combination of night, rain, and warm temperatures hasn't happened yet.  He believes it will happen in a week or two.  Right now, I'm guessing Thursday or Friday, based on weather forecasts.

In taking a back route the other day to a pond near my house to photograph a flock of redhead ducks, canvasbacks, and scaups, I found a mini-pond near wet woodland near the big pond.  This mini-pond is much bigger than the vernal pool I'm looking at in Gambier, Ohio.  Last year, I dismissed it when it looked only like a drainage gully.  The major snows of this winter must have swelled this vernal pool, if that's what it is.

I can confirm it by asking questions of the neighbors of the pool or by checking for eggs or waiting to see if it dries up in late summer as vernal pools do.   If it turns out to be one, it would be the first vernal pool I found on m own.  And it will be in my neighborhood, which I wished for.

This was the best I could do as I hid from this skittish flock of redheads, canvasbacks, and scaups on a recent evening.  The possible vernal pool in my neighborhood is near this full-sized pond.  (Photo by Don Comis)