There were 2 main ports we visited in the Mukawa area and they held good numbers of common duck species…
Late Winter Trip 2022 Day 1 #6
Tag: Harlequin Duck
A short trip out east
I was surprised to see this lone Bean Goose in the same place I’d seen 3 Greater White-fronts last month…
A pretty quiet day, the local Steller’s flew around a bit but up high and it was not especially photogenic today.
Only female Harlequins in camera range again…
A quiet Sunday again
A quiet Sunday out east today, but it’s difficult to get too tired of the common winter species here…
Port Staples
The ports are very quiet this winter: not many ducks, grebes or even gulls.
But one port had some Harlequins.
Some Harlequins
I was trying to photograph some skittish Asian Rosy Finch with no luck.
Luckily there were some Harlequin Ducks in the area…
On the clifftop
One of the resident Peregrines out east today.
A quiet Monday: Eurasian Kestrel, Buff-bellied Pipit, Rustic Bunting were among the more interesting species but nothing especially noteworthy. No Waxwings or winter finches yet.
A few raptors were around.
I can’t get sharp BIFs pointing upwards at 700mm.
Several White-tailed Eagles were in the skies but I couldn’t find the local Steller’s anywhere.
Why do male Harlequins never come close like this female?
A grey Christmas Day
Wow it was cold today…
Although east of town doesn’t have much snow.
Back in town there were blizzards.
Another noisy Duck on a rainy day
Topaz Denoise doing its thing well here….
A noisy Duck on a rainy day
Very very dark yesterday afternoon but there were some tame Harlequin Ducks just outside the car window.
This is a female.
Some scruffy Ducks
A very quiet last couple of weeks but I did get out briefly yesterday. There were several duck species around: the resident Spotbills and Goosander of course but also a lone Scaup, several Red-breasted Mergansers and this pair of very scruffy Harlequin Ducks. Not a bird I often see in summer: the latter 3 duck species are presumably non-breeding lingerers.
2021 Late Winter Trip #8
It wasn’t only geese in Mukawa…………….
Japanese Cranes have recently appeared in the area too and have been breeding for a while.
Some cropped Harlequins
I was trying to get some Harlequin Duck BIF shots in one of the small ports. All heavy crops: they were a little shy.
