On The Water!

A lone Mute Swan has taken up temporary residence in Lake Chipican. It's pink bill indicates that it is a first year bird. The large feet enable it to swim surprisingly quickly across the open water and it is usually on the far side of the lake from where I am standing. I recently managed to capture it eating plants from the bottom of the lake.

Chillin' with the geese!

Hundreds of Redheads have been gathering on Lake Chipican in recent weeks. The small lake shelters them from high winds flowing across Lake Huron, and also from hunters on the US side of the border. One day, Deryl counted 1,975 Redheads! Also present were Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead, Scaup and Ring-necked Ducks.

Something disturbed the usually quiet and still birds. I couldn't see the cause of their concern. Perhaps a mink ran along the edge of the island, spooking ones that were closer to shore. It seemed a little too late in the season for a Snapping Turtle to have upset them.

Redheads repositioning in Lake Chipican.

Although there are several other bird species on the water the Mallard is the only one tame enough to come close to shore for a mug shot.