Anatomy Study Break - Paparazzi at the Quarry

Especially in the migratory season there's a chance something unusual will show up briefly on a Halibut Point quarry pond to take a rest or find a meal. I'm quite sure that it was a pair of Wood Ducks and I startled who each other early one morning last year, though I didn't get a 'Kodak moment' through the trees. The female of the species gives a panicked alarm reminiscent (to me)  of a crow call at the same time that there's an explosive takeoff from the underbrush and a vivid collage of colors winging away. 

As the ice is breaking up on the Babson Farm Quarry you might luck into a passing celebrity such as these mergansers on their way north. It's the first place I head with my camera, admittedly a paparazzi of exotic sightings. 

Hooded Merganser pair

Shooting far across the water a few years ago I wished I could wish away the morning mist for better appreciation of the harlequin plumage of these Hooded Mergansers, the only ones I've ever seen.

Common Merganser, female

The light was more favorable when this solitary Common Merganser made its appearance last month.

Common Merganser departing

Although this bird is termed 'Common' it's the only time I've seen it at Halibut Point.

Winter visitors

On rare occasions winter ducks come up from the shoreline to the fresh-water quarry pond. These two made an appearance one day last month.

Female Bufflehead

While the tranquil setting may seem to be appealing to these ocean divers they are keyed to finding food on the briny bottom.

The Bufflehead beside Mallards

Seeing one next to our truly common resident dramatizes how small and intrepid the Buffleheads really are in their marine environment.

Greater Scaup

This Greater Scaup is the larger bird behind the Bufflehead in the photo above. It too dives to the bottom in search of food, unlike the dabbling Mallards.

Green-winged Teal beside female Mallard

A Green-winged Teal spending an April day here a few years ago gave us a glimpse of the resplendent plumage we can hope may return one of these spring days.