nesting mallard

Mallards have 1 or 2 broods each year.  One is hiding her 2nd clutch near the pond among grasses.

There are six eggs in her nest, nestled among short pieces of grass and small downy feathers.

 

hooded merganser ducklings

Today the Hooded Merganser female showed up on the pond with 15 ducklings.  This species nests in a cavity, probably in a tree or stump nearby. Once the eggs hatch, the ducklings follow the mother to water.   They fed for a while, then she signaled them to rest.  They followed her to shore and gathered under her wings. Well, sort of . . .  there were many of them!

They dive under water to find small fish, amphibians, clams, mud crabs, crayfish, tadpoles, frogs, and aquatic insects and other crustaceans. They also consume some aquatic plants.

blue-winged teal pair

The pair of Blue-winged Teal ducks were feeding on the pond this week.  They usually nest on the ground after the female selects a spot. She looks for a place near water with grass cover to hide her eggs.  

This pair of Teal Spatula discor  dabble to search among the reeds for something to eat.

Like many bird species, the female is drab speckled brown for hiding among grasses while nesting.  He is decked out for courting in colorful cinnamon front, speckled sides, black head with a white crescent on each side. Both have blue feathers on the wings which are displayed when they fly.
 

blue-wing teal

Some waterfowl, Blue-winged Teal Anas discors, stopped on the pond today.  They are some of the last ducks to arrive each Spring on breeding grounds because of their long migration from South America or Mexico. Smaller than Mallards, each weighs 9 to 18 ounces. They feed by 'dabbling' for plant matter under the water, or for crustaceans or insect larvae in the water.

hooded mergansers

Hooded Mergansers Lophodytes cucullatus are the smallest of the three native Mergansers. They migrate in early Spring along the Mississippi River and arrive on breeding grounds as soon as the ice is melted.  On this pond, they rest and find nourishment in aquatic insects, crustaceans, amphibians, and vegetation.  Pairs form in winter and they will find a tree cavity or wood duck box to built their nest.

mallards' finest feathers

 

Mallards arrived this week on the pond.  Last year, after nesting and before migrating, mallard ducks molted: each lost and replaced all of their feathers with new drab plumage. This is considered their 'basic plumage.'  In the early spring, just before breeding season, they shed some feathers and put on their handsome 'alternate plumage' to look more attractive and help attract a mate.

These two stood on the rocks to preen their feathers, close to water but not in it.  The male showed off his iridescent green head, bright yellow bill, and orange-red feet. The female revealed the white-bordered bright blue patch in her wing feathers.

dabbling ducks

Ducks are generally described by birdwatchers as 'dabblers' or 'divers'.  This refers to how the ducks feed on the water of ponds and lakeshores. Mallards are dabblers. They paddle slowly in shallow water looking for snails, worms, insects, or seeds among the aquatic plant material. They dip their heads under water and search for food with their bills.  But their bodies are very buoyant, so when feeding they are almost comical as they bob and dabble, with tails upright and legs visible.

water sports

Sunny and warmer, closer to normal weather today, after an early snow in October.  Several Mallards are getting ready for their travel south by feeding on the dwindling supply of plant material in the pond.  But the resident muskrats do not like to share their food supply.  We watched several encounters today between the animals.  

slush trail

Snow!  Several inches.  Before we were ready for it.  Before the Mallards were ready for it. As they paddled around on the pond to find breakfast, they made a trail in the accumulating slush on the water.

Mallards have been feeding and sunning themselves all day on the pond, even though we had a few snow squalls.  They must be getting ready to head south for the winter.  At dusk, the muskrat came out to gather a meal.  Seeing the ducks, he swam towards them again and again, trying to chase them away.  Defending his territory, or maybe since it is autumn he does not want to share the dwindling green plant material left to eat in the pond?

diving ducks

 

Mergansers stopped on the pond for a rest.  They floated in the early sunlight for a while, then dived under water to search for a meal.  Maybe they found aquatic insects, worms, frogs, or snails.  

Below, the duck on the right is just gathering her body upward to curve down and dive.  Because feathers make ducks buoyant, it takes muscles to dive.  The one on the left is just emerging from a dive, as the water rolls off her head.

ducks in September

 

Mallards, dabbling ducks who rely on ponds like this one, have been growing and feeding in nearby crop fields while they molted into new feathers.  Now we see them on the pond more often than in mid-summer. It is our signal to watch for daily duck visits as they prepare for migration.

Birds seek quiet hidden places while they molt into new feathers each year after nesting season. Here in Minnesota, most birds have passed that phase. So, again we are seeing dabbling ducks and diving ducks visit the pond.  Early this morning, three Mergansers were floating on calm water warming themselves in the sunlight.  After a while they began diving to find food. They eat fish, mollusks, aquatic insects, and plants.  This one was poised to dive, with her wings up, feet back, and bill ready to lead her into the water.

Mallard ducklings

The female Mallard appeared on the pond today with 11 ducklings in tow.  It is hard to tell exactly how many hours old they are since we did not track the nest or hatch time.  They stayed by Mom at first, but all swam vigorously as they got used to the water.

mallard

Female Mallard frolicking on the water?  Not a frolic -- she was having a bath.  Standing on a submerged rock, she dipped her bill and dabbed her feathers with water.  Later she swam to the shore and tidied herself on the sunny grass.  Ducks such as Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) have a preen gland that produces oil. Using the bill, they smooth their feathers and spread the preen oil to condition them.  All birds need to maintain their plumage . . .  re-position feathers, interlock feather barbules that have become separated, and remove parasites from their body or plumage.

Hooded Merganser defending territory

Hooded Mergansers have been visiting the pond to dive and feed underwater.  Some days, two pairs show up; there seems to be room for all of them on the pond. But when a bachelor shows up by himself, and swims too close to a female, the paired males signal him to go away.

Blue-winged Teal

Blue-winged Teal are also dabbling ducks, but smaller than the Mallards we frequently see on the pond.

They eat vegetation and grains, but in nesting season look for aquatic insects and larvae, crustaceans, clams, and snails.

This male was accompanied by a female and she wandered into the reeds to feed there.

spring thaw

The pond is thawed out, except for a bit of ice on the edges in the morning.  The mallards dabble close to shore, or rest and preen on last year's dried vegetation.  Occasionally, a few Canada Geese drop in to see what's up on the pond.  Mostly, they wander around on the boulevard grass, honking at one another.

foursome for lunch

We've seen a pair of Hooded Mergansers on the pond each day at various times.
This time,  two pairs find lunch on the pond. 

They come and go, so probably making the rounds of all the underwater buffets. 

We are looking forward to nesting season; this species usually look for a cavity to lay their eggs.

bufflehead

Buffleheads Bucephala albeola, small diving ducks, are migrating through Minnesota now.  They nest north of here, so I assume these  two males stopped today for rest and food.  The pond is a perfect place for a respite on a cold snowy day. Maybe they found it warmer under the surface; they seemed to stay under for 12-15 seconds. Judging from the geese and other ducks feeding here, the Buffleheads must be finding nourishment as they dive in the pond.  I was trying for a photo of both, but they were constantly diving again, and too quick for me.