Winter Diver

                           This female eider was spotted in Wollaston Bay after the ice melted.

Eiderdown Time!

This common male eider will have no problem staying warm while floating in frigid Quincy Bay because of its feathers and the coatings on the feathers.  The downy feathers from the female of this species is used to line the nest of new offspring. Iceland is the biggest producer and exporter of eiderdown. The down is not plucked from the bird but gathered from the nests after the offspring leave which makes eiderdown a rare commodity and very expensive.  An eiderdown duvet may last 40 years and is considered an heirloom in many families.  Sleeping under one is like sleeping under a warm cloud which will be what I will be doing tonight as the temperature plunges below zero!

Bed Head?

                      Caught this male red-breasted merganser between dives near Nut Island.

Winning Profile

                            This male mallard let me get close to capture his striking profile.

Swim Lessons

Quintessential spring . . .

Make Way . . .

This handsome mallard was spotted dabbling in Blacks Creek.

A Ducky Day

A sure sign that spring is coming is this pair of American Black Ducks that were spotted on the Neponset River.  The male has the yellow bill.

Bad Hair Day

This red breasted merganser's tufts of head feathers reminds me of my youngest son's untamed head of hair when he was little.

A Bevy Of Beauties

This bevy of (Mute) Swans, 4 adults and 1 juvenile, were spotted grazing in the marsh grass near Marina Bay. 

Arctic Visitors

This raft of common eiders were spotted in the flooded marshes near Squantum causeway.  The males are white and black; the females are mottled brown.  I hope they hang around for a while and molt - my eider down quilt could use a few more downy feathers.  Have a ducky weekend!

Duck Drama

A pair of buffleheads (below) are challenged by an intruding male (above) at Blacks Creek.

Bird Dog?

It's a good thing my dog Daisy is a feline fancier.   Happy Summer Solstice!

Photo Of The Year 2011

I chose this picture for January Theme Day because it is a picture I was hoping to capture for a very long time. The serendipitous moment happened this past November as I was walking my dog in Black's Creek. I heard geese in the distance making their way toward me and had just enough time to turn and focus my camera toward the sky hoping the geese would appear overhead . . . and they did. Happy New Year and happy photo hunting everyone!

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

A Ducky Day!

I think my dog Daisy must have flushed out these two friendly duck hunters from their blind in the phragmites when she got curious with their geese decoys. (See yesterday's post.) The hunters didn't "bag" any ducks this day but enjoyed the beauty of Blacks Creek and the unseasonably warm weather. During this encounter, I was treated to a sampling of the different duck whistles.

You can learn more about the state migratory bird regulations here.

Daisy & The Geese

Daisy is poised for geese but these decoys won't be flying off anywhere too soon until their owners collect them.

Atlantic Flyway

We are in the midst of duck hunting season. Much to my surprise last week, I discovered a few avid hunters around my favorite haunt, Blacks Creek.

Happy Monochrome Monday!

Birds Of A Feather

Happy Anniversary to my special mate!

Rest Stop

Many mallards and other types of waterfowl stop at Blacks Creek to bask in some sunshine and grab a bite to eat before the blizzard arrives.

Make Way For Ducklings

Could these ducklings be Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack, and Quack all grown up with their friends?

Mr. & Mrs.

The markings of the male and female mallard are so very different. Happy Monochrome Monday! Come back tomorrow and see some more members of this flock in gorgeous color.