December 5 2012. Valley Inn Hamilton ON. A serious winter wind was blowing out of the north-west today. It looked decent enough early on, the sky was mostly open and the sun shining. But a far-off bank of piled cumulus clouds was getting its ice-smooth tops torn away in streamers. At ground level the wind was buffeting me and made my eyes water.
I visited one of our most productive waterfowl inlets hoping for some interesting ducks. Two bird photographers dressed in heavy winter parkas with hoods up, were standing on the shore cradling long-lens equipment and hoping for something to show up; they looked cold to the bone. But Lake Ontario is at a 35-year low and these watery inlets that are usually shallow and a happy place for ducks are now dry; just mudflats.
In a remnant puddle, far from the shore, was a group of Mallards and a solitary male Hooded Merganser floating disconsolately, his head tucked under his wing and hoping the wind would soon drop. The only other sign of life was a small group of Gadwall, they were in a sheltered spot with a modicum of water and seemed quite active and even satisfied with their lot in life.
Looking at them, handsome in a grey and brown manner, I was reminded how Pete Dunne describes them in his Essential Field Guide Companion book: “Fairly common and conservative, in both attire and social commitments. Males make a fashion statement with tasteful gray…..” It’s true, there’s something rather Bank of England about them; well dressed, confident and yet subdued. Bird of the Day because they’re reassuring; cold wind or not, all is well with the world.
[slickr-flickr tag=”gadwall”]