Bay Photos by Donna

The last of the beautiful winter ducks have departed the Chesapeake Bay region, leaving a few stragglers here and there for whatever reasons.

The most of any one winter duck visiting in our local area were Lesser Scaup.  I got so many wonderful captures of them, it was hard cutting down my final ones to these.

Lesser Scaup males vying for a female’s attention

 

Female Lesser Scaup and her entourage

 

Lesser Scaup (female)

 

Lesser Scaup (male)

 

The United States harbors Lesser Scaup year-round in parts of Washington and Oregon, but the rest of the country’s winter visiting Lesser Scaup migrate back to breed in Montana, Wyoming, and Canada.

 

Lesser Scaup in flight

 

Lesser Scaup landing

 

Lesser Scaup landing

 

Lesser Scaup landing

 

Lesser Scaup taking off at sunset

 

Female Lesser Scaup landing with reflections

 

Female Lesser Scaup landing with reflections

 

Male Lesser Scaup landing

 

Lesser Scaup (male) coming in for a landing

 

Lesser Scaup (male) preparing to land

 

Lesser Scaup (male) landing

 

Lesser Scaup are the most abundant diving duck in North America, with a breeding population estimated at 3.8 million.

 

Male Lesser Scaup “popping back up” from a dive for food

 

Way too many photos, sorry!

“Yes, Donna, too many photos!”

 

Lesser Scaup (male)

 

Lesser Scaup (male)

 

How nice to know they will be back late Fall the end of this year!