Have you ever seen a Bufflehead? I’ve only seen them a couple of times and once was many years ago in Colorado. I think they are beautiful ducks and I was excited to see them on my freezing cold walk in Long Pond Ironworks the other day.
They were on the other side of the lake from me and very uncooperative in letting me photograph them, so most of these photos are cropped and zoomed.
At first when I saw the smaller brownish duck I assumed it was a juvenile. Not so! According to my bird book this is the female, which I have never seen. It looks like there are two females in the top photo. Here is a cropped look at a pair that ventured a little closer to me.
And up a little closer for detail.
A good look at the markings on the back of the male as the female spooks.
Ducks away!
(photos: A Bevy of Buffleheads on Monksville Reservoir)