The migration is on in earnest now. Wave after wave of turkey vultures soar over the bleached cornfields, while the musical chips of the kinglets fill the bushes around my house. Out on the lake this week, huge flotillas of Canada geese honked up a storm (literally), and then when the wind died down again, the double-crested cormorants filed past for several minutes, their numbers scarcely diminished after two summers of official government "culling." Now it's the mergansers' turn - mostly Red-breasteds with a few Commons here and there - escorted by a squadron of gulls. But even as they leave, the juncos are arriving...and on it goes. Farewell to some, and welcome to others.
These shots aren't the best. It was very overcast, and I wanted a distance shot to try and show the numbers, and give at least some idea of the spectacle. You could have stood at the breakwall and turned 90 degrees to either side, and seen the same sight, hundreds and hundreds of birds, endless birds. And then, by some unseen or heard cue, they began to lift off, and in a few moments were gone.
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14 comments:
How amazing to watch this! And I'm loving the idea of the Merganser Nation. W00t!! Birdz Rul!
You really have a ringside seat! It must be quite a sight to see!
That is fantastic! And you do indeed have a ringside seat! How wonderful!
Enjoy your weekend, Deborah!
Sylvia
wow, what a traffic jam. amazing
I have a clear sense of the numbers from your images. That must be something to witness.
How neat, Deb. Wow---you really do have a huge batch of migrating birds, don't you???? Great pictures. Do any of them come to your feeders?
Welcome to the Juncos.
Have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Betsy
I think the leaving and arriving is set to begin here. I like the views...I think I would love where you live.
must be a fabulous spectacle!
simply beautifully captured shots...lovely!
Deborah, how I would have loved to see and hear this! You live in a magical place!
You've taught me about the word "Merganser". Do you live right on the water? Near it, anyway?
awesome!
What a fascinating event at this time of the year to watch from your porch! Better than Thanksgiving where you get to watch the birds instead of eating them.
Oh yes! Like the flights over Montezuma Wildlife Refuge [a couple hours drive west of Syr.]this time of year. Like a black flying carpet in the sky. Endless and inspiring.
T.
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