Hiking in Reverse

Today I took the usual Coastal Trail route, only in reverse. I started at the Chester creek Greenbelt, and walked down to Westchester Lagoon, and on to the coast.

From left to right are two Greater Scaup, a Green-winged Teal, and a mallard. I'm not sure if These are adult females, or immature birds, or just moulting adults of both sexes. They were at Spenard Crossing, which is between The Chester Creek Green Belt and Westchester Lagoon.

A scaup stretches it's wings. I was anxious to photograph some birds with the new camera, but today was heavily overcast with light rain. So I could not get much in the way of action, or very sharp images.

I was very surprised to see such young scaups this late in the season.

A Widgeon with slightly older young.

She had five babies in all but they would'nt stay close together for a family portrait.

A colorful island on Westchester.

I like the texture of the water surrounding this Red-necked Grebe.

There were hundreds of Short-billed Dowitchers on an island in Westchester. Along with Canada Geese, and a few scaup.

I could not get as close as I would like so I had to content myself with various group shots.

This is an idyllic scene with all the flowers.

What I really wanted to do was photograph terns in flight but there were none on Westchester. There was also very little to be seen on the coast.