The Magic Puddle

  Independence Grove FP is a very picturesque location suited more for people really than for birds. There are not many wild plantings and the main pond is designed more for fishing than for waterfowl seeing as there is virtually no emergent vegetation along the edges or within the body itself. It has a swimming pond and many rolling hills with paved trails. In spite of the myriad of human visitors and disturbances, it continues to house a good supply of birds, some of which are very rare elsewhere. This fall a Red-necked Grebe spent a  couple of weeks here and just a month or so ago, Al Stokie found a couple of Tundra Swans here. Cackling Geese are consistently found here in the fall and Snow Geese can often be found here as well.
  In the winter there is an area of ice that takes longer to freeze than the rest of the pond, though I'm not sure why. It is not a very big opening but it manages to attract a large number of waterfowl species. It looks like a big puddle......no kidding. The following species were present in the puddle today:

 1. Canada Goose
 2. Mallard
 3. American Coot
 4. Gadwall
 5. Red-breasted Merganser
 6. Common Merganser (f)
 7. Redhead
 8. Northern Pintail (m)
 9. Lesser Scaup
 10. Ring-necked Duck
 11. Mute Swan

  I had nice looks at the rear peaked head of the LESSER SCAUP and a bonus gift of a beautiful NORTHERN PINTAIL. 2 new year birds today!

                               Northern Pintail

                                      Lesser Scaup