January 01 – My Nature Journal
2026-01-01 Nature Journal
Buffleheads
These two male Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola) were fishing on the far side of the lake.
They were very energetic and dove frequently. Each bird remained at the surface for only a second or two at a time before disappearing under the surface.
I enjoy watching diving birds like these Buffleheads because they always remind me that so much activity and life happens under the surface of seemingly placid water.
In the minutes when both of these Buffleheads were underwater at the same time, the section of the lake in which they were fishing appeared completely empty.
But then, boop! One or both of these striking birds would pop to the surface and I’d realize that the lake holds any number of wild animals at any given time and you have to be patient to see them.
These Buffleheads remind me of the value of really looking with patience at the natural world. Look up once and you may not see anything. But look long and patiently and you may just see something awesome.
Killdeer
Many individual Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) live at this lake. They dart along the mudflats that appear when the lake level is low.
The mudflats are flat islands separated from the lake shore by a span of water, so using a telephoto lens is the only option to capture their picture.
As small, dull-colored birds, Killdeer blend into their background. They’re easy to overlook, especially at a distance and when they keep still. But their distinctive keening call—sounded most often in flight—rings out for long distances over open water. So you might hear Killdeer before you see them.
A great way to spot Killdeer is to listen for their call, focus on them in flight, and watch where they land.
Gadwalls
This male and female Gadwall (Mareca strepera) were foraging for food along the distant shore of a large beaver pond.
Because this beaver pond is only a season or two old, the water is studded with lots of old logs, tree stumps, and dead cattails, which presumably attract lots of the aquatic invertebrates upon which Gadwalls feed.
These Gadwalls were difficult to spot. I only realized they were there because I habitually scan every body of water with my telephoto lens in the hopes of seeing wild animals. Their dull plumage blended perfectly with the whitened, dead vegetation.
Plus they were totally silent—they didn’t call to each other, splash around, or otherwise draw any attention to themselves as they drifted around the far side of the pond.
They barely rippled the water’s surface even as they tipped up and down, dabbling for food.
Today’s Nature Journal Snapshot
|
Time of Day |
Mid-afternoon |
|
Setting |
Beaver pond and large lake |
|
Temperature |
53° F /12° C |
|
Weather |
Partly sunny |
|
Humidity |
38% |
2025-01-01 Nature Journal
Hooded Mergansers
These Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) were the only two waterfowl on the entire pond when I visited.
When I arrived, both birds were floating calmly on the water’s surface with their bills tucked into their back feathers. For several seconds, neither reacted beyond opening their eyes to check me out.
This surprised me because, as a rule, Hooded Mergansers flee at even the most distant approach—at least in my experience.
I can’t count the number of shots I’ve taken that show nothing more than their blurry tail feathers as they recede into the distance (usually the farthest, most inaccessible areas of any given lake or pond!).
But today, I got lucky.
This particular pond is quite small, with minimal vegetation along the water’s edge. I still kept my distance because I don’t believe in stressing wild animals into changing their behavior while photographing.
For whatever reason, this male and female Hooded Merganser remained in place which allowed me to catch these shots.
Eventually, other people came into the area, several of whom had dogs. This proved to be too much for the Hooded Mergansers, who roused and paddled away.
Today’s Nature Journal Snapshot
|
Time of Day |
Early afternoon |
|
Setting |
Small pond |
|
Temperature |
57° F / 14° C |
|
Weather |
Passing clouds |
|
Humidity |
37% |
