Untamed Land

Untamed Land
Untamed Land

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Jeremy's Yard Birds

Petersburg is on Kupreanof Island in Southeast Alaska. It is truly an isolated place. He commonly sees whales, seals, and many seabirds right in front of his house, which faces Frederick Sound. Like these two very striking duck species. A male Surf Scoter, and two male Harlequin Ducks.
Surf Scoters are pretty much found exclusively on the ocean. Jeremy also sees, White-winged, and Black Scoters.
Barrow's Goldeneyes spend the winter on the ocean also. They are recent arrivals to Jeremy's neck of the woods.
Sometimes they can be confiding around people.
A species that is not easy to approach, Long-tailed Ducks. So far, they have not come close to shore at Jeremy's house.
Jeremy shot a series of photos of this Glaucous-winged Gull dive bombing some Red-breasted Mergansers.
Jeremy said that the gull zeroed in on one merganser, and was relentless in harrassing it. He thought maybe the gull was trying to get it's fish. I think the gull was trying to kill the hapless duck.
I once watched a group of gulls drown a Ruddy duck, and carry it off, presumably to eat.

Since it's Halloween night as I write this, I'll include this double exposure of Jeremy being Jeckyl and Hyde.  BOO.

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