Bufflehead ducks

2011 flock

   I first noticed these ducks in a local pond last year and was happy to see them, the first thing that pops out about them is the striking black and white males a huge difference from yhe regular mallards that are here year round.


2012 flock

   I was stoked to see them back this year and around the same time looks like i can expect them every november, hopefully. luckily i happened to take a photo of them last year and the first thing that sticks out is this year they brought some friends from only three last year to ten this year. The first year there were 2 females and 1 male, this year there are 6 females and 4 males, I'm curious to see what happens next winter.


    Migrating birds as a whole are pretty amazing with their knowledge and endurance to consistently take advantage of geographic climate changes year after year. Very few humans can afford such a comfort. These bufflehead ducks come from the northern canada regions and travel almost two thousand miles to get here, simply incredible.
   One thing that should be noted is the buffleheads are relatively small in size but they had no problem fitting in with the local mallards they all swam around together in a group until i started trying to move in for a closer photo then the buffleheads seperated into their own group ready to take flight if i posed a risk.
   


females mostly black



male in flight

reference: allaboutbirds.org