January 11 – My Nature Journal
2026-01-11 Nature Journal
Ring-necked Duck
Today at the lake, one solitary male Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) floated amidst a flock of a dozen or so Ruddy Ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis).
I scanned the area thoroughly but couldn’t spot a female Ring-necked Duck.
For this male’s sake, I hoped a female lurked somewhere.
It seemed a lonely existence to be the one Ring-necked Duck on an entire lake.
Bufflehead
Normally, I see Buffleheads (Bucephala albeola) floating on the lake’s surface and duck-diving for fish.
In my experience, Buffleheads aren’t as skittish as some other water bird species. They don’t let people get close but they tend to simply drift towards the center of the lake when people approach rather than take flight.
But today, a dogwalker approached and startled the Buffleheads. They flapped their wings, ran along the water’s surface to gain speed, and flew off to the far side of the lake.
Today’s Nature Journal Snapshot
|
Time of Day |
Late morning |
|
Setting |
Large lake |
|
Temperature |
55° F / 13° C |
|
Weather |
Passing clouds |
|
Humidity |
27% |
