Red-breasted Merganser Hunt

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66663448 - Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Clarke County, Georgia. January 20, 2018.

Saturday, January 20, 2018, 4:15 PM- Winter’s grip has loosened. (Not that winter's grip is ever too tight in Georgia.) The other morning I was watching the snowfall, and today I’m hiking without a jacket in the warm, 64-degree sunshine! Several people had recently posted a trio of Red-breasted Mergansers at Sandy Creek Park in my hometown of Athens, Georgia. So I make a short getaway and head for Lake Chapman.

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66663449 - Red-breasted Mergansers; Clarke County, Georgia. January 20, 2018.

​Arriving at the park I had no idea where these birds would be on the 260 acre lake. So why not start at the main beach and walk the Lakeside trail north from there? Well, I didn’t have to go far. Just off shore from the main beach parking area I could see the three ugly ducklings diving in the water! Obviously they were the Red-breasted Mergansers I came to see: long pointy bills, and topped with rusty, scruffy bad-hair-day! Truly unique looking birds! I spent quite a bit of time observing this new quarry and making sure I would get some good shots.

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66663450 - Song Sparrow; Clarke County, Georgia. January 20, 2018.

Having found my prize so quickly, I went for a short walk. The temporary withdraw of winter produced a good bit of avian activity. There were Robins a-plenty; a busy Downy Woodpecker; a singing Kinglet; and a Sparrow soaking the sunset.

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66663451 - Downy Woodpecker; Clarke County, Georgia. January 20, 2018.

© Photographer: William Wise | iNat Observation: 66667672 - Musk Turtle shell; Clarke County, Georgia. January 20, 2018.

​Athens, Clarke County, Georgia; January 20, 2018

• Sunny, high near 60°
• Sunrise 7:37 AM, sunset 5:52 PM
• Day length: 10 hours, 15 minutes
• Moon: waxing crescent, 10% illumination

Posted on January 21, 2022 07:28 PM by williamwisephoto