Trumpeter Swans, Horned Larks, and Pintails
Published: February 03, 2018
Tags: General Observations, Trumpeter Swan, Horned Lark, Northern Pintail, American Black Duck, Horned Lark
My friend, Gale, reported six Trumpeter Swans down in Fredonia at a little pond behind a Walmart shopping store. It's amazing the different species this little pond has attracted over the years. Gale mentioned on her Instagram account (@novembergale) that the water hardly ever freezes due to the road salt that gets kicked into it. It's a nice attractant to waterfowl - and this day, SIX Trumpeter Swans! I just had to see these large and magnificent beauties. And happily, they were still there when I arrived.
I was surprised at the number of American Black Ducks that were lined up and sleeping along the edge of the pond. I counted nearly twenty of them. I had just about the same number out in a cornfield where I stopped the other day on my way to my folks' house. The cornfield hosted hundreds of Canada Geese and Mallards as well as the black ducks and, to my surprise, a few Northern Pintail already.
On my way home from Dunkirk, I took a long, rural route and was glad to find some Horned Larks out in a field. They were quite close, actually, nipping at the seed heads of some weeds growing at the roadside edge of a farm field. There were only a couple dozen of them, but they're always a nice bird to see!
 Trumpeter Swan head shot showing the long, straight bill  Trumpeter Swan  Trumpeter Swan  Trumpeter Swan - the more "v" like shape at the base of the bill can be seen in this photo.  Trumpeter Swans  Horned Lark nipping at some seeds - and showing his little "horns"  Reaching for some seeds  There's always fussing and fighting with birds!  Showing his better side...  Some of the sleeping American Black Ducks  A pair of Wood Ducks was a nice surprise  Elegant male Northern Pintail  Northern Pintail - male (left) and female (right)  The male pintail with a black duck behind and to the right
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