My View of Life on the Dock
Our Great Salt Marsh isĀ beginning to spring back to life. Red-winged Blackbirds can be seen,Ā and heard,Ā chortling from every outpost, Morning Doves are nest building, and theĀ Mallards, Black Ducks, and Canada Geese areĀ pairing up. Only 19Ā more days until the officialĀ start of spring!
Mourning Dove
From an early morningĀ stop at the bottom of my hill, with a view towards the Harbor and City Hall (as well asĀ a feisty Common Loon), to the creatures abounding along the shore,Ā it was a gorgeous winter morning, and all set against a widelyĀ striped and deeply-hued winter sky backdrop.
Common Loon at the pier, swimming very close to where I was standing and seemingly equally as curious about me as I was about it.Ā
Gloucester FV Connemara Bay
Male (left) and Female Red-breasted Mergansers foraging atĀ the Harbor
The Lollygaggers
Flock of American Black Ducks
Orchestra of earth tones for a well-camouflaged female Mallard Duck
https://www.instagram.com/p/BOkW5ydDEAg/
The Mallard Duck family that I have been filming during theĀ early morning hours this past week is allowing me to get very close, venturing to within two feet fromĀ where I am tucked in amongst the reeds by the water’s edge. The ducklings mirror the parent’s every action and they are are especially adorableĀ learning how to oil their feathers. Although the female attempts to stay close, and the male is always hovering nearby, one isĀ becomingĀ increasingly independent, a little too independent if you ask me. I can’t get over the ducklingsĀ vulnerability–its a miracle anyĀ survive to adulthood.
The mixed flock of ducks is comprised mostly of Mallards, with several pairs of American Black Ducks mixed in. AĀ single pair of Blue-winged Teals was spottedĀ for several days.
Blue-winged Teal Adult Male Breeding Plummage
American Black Duck
Good Morning Gloucester 