waterfowl – A Thousand Acres of Silphiums

Binder Lake Scoters

As has been my luck with the rarities lately, if I can find them at all, it will be under poor light. This is the pair of Surf Scoters that have been spending time lately at Binder Lake, just outside Jefferson City. This was my first trip to the lake and it held a number of interesting waterfowl species.

Surf Scoters typically winter on almost any coastal waters of North America. My best guess is that these guys were on their way to gulf waters and decided to have an extended stay in a midwestern lake during this quite autumn we have had so far.

In my opinion, this is a couple of hens, but I am no expert.

Birds of Quivira – The Waterfowl

birds, Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, wildlife

Most of the waterfowl had long since migrated north by the time Steve and I visited Quivira in May, but we were able to find a few. We encountered a few Eared Grebe and with the winds as high as they were, the waves were impressive in such shallow bodies of water.

Eared Grebe - Winter — Eared Grebe – Winter

Blue-winged Teal were the most abundant of the waterfowl.

Finally, we watched this gorgeous pair of Canada Geese in golden hour light. They seemed more appropriate here than in any other setting I had ever seen them before.