Blue Ridge Birders, Science Projects Ali Reilly Blue Ridge Birders, Science Projects Ali Reilly

Searching for Ducks

BRDC staff ventured into the field on Monday, February 15th in search of wintering/migrating ducks and waterfowl. We had a very successful day, with a total of 15 waterfowl species identified and 531 individuals counted.

BRDC staff ventured into the field on Monday, February 15th in search of wintering/migrating ducks and waterfowl. We had a very successful day, with a total of 15 waterfowl species identified and 531 individuals counted. We spent the day hopping between bodies of water (Rural Retreat Lake, Claytor Lake, New River, and small regional farm ponds), and got to see a diverse array of specimens, even if they were, more often than not, hundreds of yards away. All individuals seen were submitted to eBird.

Pictured above are canvasbacks, which only migrate through the Southern Blue Ridge in the later winter/early spring. Behind them you can see hooded mergansers.

Pictured above are canvasbacks, which only migrate through the Southern Blue Ridge in the later winter/early spring. Behind them you can see hooded mergansers.

Species documented-

  1. mallard

  2. canadian geese

  3. northern flicker

  4. killdeer

  5. bluejay

  6. belted kingfisher

  7. bald eagle

  8. song sparrow

  9. eastern bluebird

  10. dark-eyed junco

  11. great blue heron

  12. american crow

  13. common merganser

  14. hooded merganser

  15. red-bellied woodpecker

  16. horned lark

  17. rock pigeon

  18. red-tailed hawk

  19. northern mockingbird

  20. northern cardinal

  21. mourning dove

  22. canvasback

  23. ruddy duck

  24. gadwall

  25. ring-necked duck

  26. bufflehead

  27. carolina wren

  28. american kestrel

  29. american wigeon

  30. pileated woodpecker

  31. white-winged scoter

  32. long-tailed duck

  33. common goldeneye

  34. downy woodpecker

  35. ring-billed gull

  36. eastern phoebe

  37. golden-crowned kinglet

  38. pied-billed grebe

  39. common loon

  40. common raven

The common loon is another species of waterfowl that can be spotted around the Southern Blue Ridge in the later winter/early spring during their migration north.

The common loon is another species of waterfowl that can be spotted around the Southern Blue Ridge in the later winter/early spring during their migration north.

Late winter and early spring are excellent times for a birder to stop by ponds, lakes, or rivers in hopes of seeing some beautiful waterfowl. Many species have either been overwintering in the Southern Blue Ridge, or will be migrating through to northern breeding grounds. Don’t miss the opportunity to experience and study these often elusive or rare species!

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