New Ducks

The many greenhead mallards who've wintered on the pond with us these last two years have apparently all left for their summer ponds. But we're finding a good variety of other visitors to our waters, like this group of Greater Scaups I spotted this morning.

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The Greater Scaup is in the class of diving ducks, with legs too short and set back for land foraging. We had four pair swimming around the pond today. I wonder if they are only here on holiday, or perhaps to set up residence for the summer. I wish my camera could capture how clearly I see them through binoculars. They're quite lovely to behold.

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