Saturday's Critters at the Lake

There were lots and lots of geese at the lake when I went down a couple of days ago. The honking was amazing with such a large gathering. Canada Geese, Lesser Canada Geese, Mute Swans, Trumpeter Swans and a smattering of ducks. It was quite a party!

Lots of white bums up as the mute swans were feeding

I guess if you're going to brave the cold temperatures, you'll want to complain good and loud to the silly goose beside you!

"My bum is so cold I can't even feel it"
"What bum?! I've had no feeling in my bum since December"

The Canada geese are such a rowdy bunch. 

Lots of noisy activity going on in the air, in the water and on the ice.

Wherever there were geese, there was noise.

It was difficult for them to sit still for any length of time.

Incoming!!

It was fun to play with the exposure to make these not-so-colourful birds 

stand out in the snow and ice.

The trumpeter swans slowly drifted over to greet us ... looking for handouts. I don't normally see these swans in the summer. It's usually the mute swans. The trumpeters seem even more beautiful than the mute, with beautiful long elegant necks. All their movements were so graceful and pretty. I loved watching them, and they were keen to watch us as well looking for a snack.

A little family of two adults and one juvenile. Big paddle-wheel flippers working hard through the freezing waters. It was bitterly cold, and the poor things had icicles on their chests and coating their bills.

They didn't seem to mind the cold waters or the cold air. 

Lots of preening going on, and just gentle drifting on the waves.

And just look at the ruffles they wear ... gorgeous!

There were a few ducks on the water as well. They sort of got lost in the general mayhem, but occasionally one or two would break from their little groups and motor around on their own.  The mallards, of course, came over in a bunch looking for handouts. I don't normally feed these birds, and there are signs posted around not to feed the geese as they become far too annoying if you do. Also, everyone would love to see the geese migrate south come winter, but more and more often, they are wintering here.  The mallards looking nice and glossy. I loved how the males' heads flash from green to blue to purple suddenly in the sunshine.

They may be common, but they are quite striking.

There was also a small band of common golden eyes, and this chubby little guy was bravely fighting the icy waves away from his pals. He was fairly timid, and even though I was quite a distance away from him, he didn't stay above water very long, and then under he went to get away from the camera.

I can't identify the next pair of ducks. They were far away, and these are the best photos I could get of them as they swam even further away with their backs to me. Does anyone recognize them? I think they were a pair, but who knows. The closest I could find is a common merganser for the white male, because of his narrow beak, but if they're a pair, the female doesn't look like a common merganser.

Here's another duck that I couldn't find in my Eastern Birds book ...

I think it's a female lesser scaup, but the colouring of the cinnamon breast is so defined compared to the wings, that it looks different from my bird book. The white patch over it's bill looks right though. I would love if someone knew and could tell me for sure. I'm not very familiar with water birds, except for the very obvious.

And that's it folks! I know there were a lot of photos, but I hope you enjoyed them. I tried to convince a couple of family members to come with me to a little marsh today, but I couldn't convince anyone it would be fun. The cold temperatures are hanging on, and the wind chill is bitter. But I would so love to visit the marsh to see what's hanging around this winter.

Thanks for stopping by!

Wendy

Linking up with Eileen's Saturday Critters