Peaceful Swim

Mallards and Migratory Birds

The Mallard Duck enjoys our lake year around and families can be seen throughout the summer months. Migratory birds keep spending time at the lake, some just over night, while some stay for a week or more. A flock of American Coots has been with us for over two weeks. The next several posts show the Mallards and some new migratory birds.

Mallard

These two male Mallards are leaving quite a wake as they make their way across the lake. Mallards are on our lake year around, They are one of the most common ducks in our area of Northeastern Ohio. The male has the characteristic green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, grayish body, and a black tail with a white stripe. They range in length from 18-27" and have a wingspan up to 36". They are semi-domesticated and can be found on most bodies of water.

The Pied-Billed Grebe

Grebes are swimming and diving birds, smaller than loons, with flat lobes on their toes. Their short legs are far back on their bodies and their tails and wings are short. They hold their head low in flight which is weak and hurried. So it escapes danger by diving or by slowly sinking below the water's surface. The Pied-Billed Grebe likes shallow water and is rarely found in salt water. This is the most common nesting Grebe in the East. It is a small (length of 9-12"), solitary, stocky Grebe with a chicken-like bill which is white with a black ring around it during breeding season. The Pied-Billed Grebe is uniformly brownish with white under its tail.

Horned Grebe

The Horned Grebe is one of the most common of the Grebe family especially in the East, found along salt water marshes and thus is considered a salt water bird. However, they are found in the Great Lakes area and can adapt to fresh water. The Horned Grebe has a thin, straight, sharply pointed bill, white neck and forefront, dark back, and keeps it's rump low in the water. The eye is red with a red streak running from the bill to back of the eye. The Horned Grebe is 9.5" long with a wing span of 24". In the summer the male's white plumage turns to a rusty red.

Ruddy Duck

The Ruddy Duck is a member of the "Stiff-Tailed Duck Family". This duck family is characterized by small and stubby ducks, with a short thick neck. The Ruddy Duck is small and chunky, about 11" long, with a long tail that is often held straight up while swimming. Their wings are short and rounded, but they are able to fly fast with rapid wing beats. The male in breeding plumage has a chestnut body (see the one on the far left), black crown, and white cheeks. Females and winter males are dusky brown, with whitish cheeks. The female has a dark stripe across her cheeks. They are commonly found on lakes and ponds in the southern United States. They are usually silent even when in a flock like this one.

A Flock of Wild Turkeys

A flock of Wild Turkeys numbering a least 75 were feeding in this corn field left over from last year. This was on Monday morning, March 31, 2008 and we were on our way into town when we spotted this flock and had to turn around and go back to take some pictures. There are some woods near by so they probably were roosting there overnight and came out into the field to start their day. Turkeys can fly strongly for short distances, but prefer running to escape danger as most hunters have found out. They typically feed on seeds, nuts, acorns, and fruit.