They brought me out of hibernation.
It’s been a long winter, not record temperatures, but record snow, all the way into March and April. The Pond started to melt just last week. Then they all came, so fast. I’m amazed at the varieties, some I haven’t seen before.
One evening last week:
American White Pelicans in the evening light, welcome back!
And then from a distance, some I wasn’t familiar with:
A white hood, not a Bufflehead. The sun was setting quickly, and I must say goodbye, not for long though.
Went back next morning and saw them. I wouldn’t have known if not for another photographer who told me they were Hooded Mergansers, rare visitors to the Pond. Only the male is white-hooded. The female looks like the Common Merganser female which always reminds me of Lucille Ball for some reasons:
The Great Blue Heron, frequent visitor to the Pond, a bit shy as I approached:
The Lesser Scaup:
Northern Shovelers playing catch:
Just as I was leaving, I was stunned to see these beautiful creatures flying above. I wasn’t ready but still able to snap a couple of photos. Not until I went back home and did some search did I realize I’d just seen a ballet of Trumpeter Swans in the sky:
Don’t fly away, stop by the Pond next time!
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Ripple Effects 