The weather turned cold this past week and for several days the wind was high. For a second week, the absence of Great Blue Herons is noticeable. However my husband and I walked the boardwalk as usual and had a ducky week there watching the Mallards and Black Ducks.
The salt marsh is home to a flock of mixed ducks these days, since the water is slow to drain out of the marsh due to the dam of seaweed at the mouth of the stream.
Mallards add the most colour to the marsh, the males with their green heads and the females with their beautiful markings.
A pair of Black Ducks have been long term residents of the marsh, but this past few months, they have increased in number as the marsh has flooded.
This smaller duck is not a common sight this late in the season.
Another rare sight here is this hybrid duck, with green marking on the sides of its head and combination of Mallard and Black Duck markings on its body.
The scene from the nearby bridge can look different depending on the cloud cover, the wind and the tide.
These two photos were taken just over a week apart at the same location.
Winter jackets have been moved to the front of the closet this past week. Temperatures in the low single digits now take some getting used to, as the hats and gloves make walking more comfortable. Snow one morning didn’t accumulate but was a reminder of what lies ahead.
Meanwhile, a nearby street which two weeks ago was golden,
has lost much of its glow but kept its character.
Along the boardwalk, many of the trees are leafless now. Only the Tamarack/Larch has any golden colour these days, always later to change than the deciduous leaf-filled trees.
One day this past week, the temperature rose to 16 degrees Celsius among days of 5 degrees. That afternoon my friend Liz and I went for a walk along the beach in the Evangeline area not far from Summerside. Afterward we sat in our chairs on the beach and enjoyed our pumpkin spice coffee, brought in our thermos from home.
We sat near a stream that trickled into the sea which lapped the shoreline. A piece of driftwood was a reminder of the power of the sea. Such a day so late in the season was a pure gift of nature.
And on a colder morning, a Red Squirrel was busy collecting seeds from an evergreen along the way as we walked the boardwalk. Winter preparation is upon all of us!
Have a wonderful week!
36 comments:
Oh! That squirrel's eyes! So beautiful. Most ducks around here are mallards I think. So good to get out and walk and then sit as well! What a bonus.
Winter's on its way!
Fascinating, the hybrid duck. And the differences in colour, tone and story in the two water shots. I like your squirrel, too. Great character. We have pretty well all the leaves down here except the tamarak and the oaks. Our house is pretty well surrounded by trees, and JG uses strong language about the massive leaf pickup. But, once the leaves are down, I have a much longer view, especially to the west, for sunsets. So, lining, rose if not usually silver.
Thank you for taking me along on the walk. It was wonderful!
My warm jackets have been brought up from the basement closet too. And I have sorted and washed all the summer teeshirts and capris and they are stacked away waiting for summer weather. Love the photos of the ducks. Lots of ducks and geese and also 4 swans are on our local reservoir, I'll take some pics.
Weather like that it's good to be a duck, all that down and feathers.
You are enjoying my kind of weather!! Great comparisons on how quickly nature changes. Blink and you miss it.
Great photos, love the look of Autumn and the squirrel is absolutely gorgeous.
Except for one occasion several years ago, I only see mallards. That street underwent quite a change in a short period and will be stark soon if it isn't already.
One would think the ducks would be considering their trip south soon too. The trees are glorious in the first photo, a wee bit sadder in the second.Winter is certainly on the horizon, here too!
What an incredibly beautiful week. Thank you so much for sharing some of that beauty.
Great sightings and duck photos. The Mallard is cute, the male stand out with the green head. Your hybrid looks more like the American Wigeon to me. I hope the see the Black Ducks and more show up here soon. Take care, enjoy your day and the week ahead.
You give a great report of what's in your area.
Color here is also considerably thinner. Winter is coming.
To sit by the sea and drink coffee (or tea) while the waves roll in and out would be a lovely, lovely thing. I had never seen a Black Duck until our trip out east - they are darkly beautiful. I wish you many more days to enjoy the beauty of autumn.
Oh, that little squirrel is so, so cute. Love the street photos...I think both versions were beautiful.
Wow, I have been away from reading blogs lately and I am so glad I checked in with you. I forgot just how stunning your photographs are. So clear! Wonderful wild life!! Very nice.
the nearby street, with all of it's beautiful colors, looks like a postcard...it is that pretty. the mallards don't get near the attention they deserve, the males green heads are so stunning!!
I knew I would find "zen moments" here. : )
Duckys and more critters. Loving the beautiful colors. Here in TN ours are about gone with winds and rain a few days ago. More wind and more rain headed in so what little leaves we have will be gone
Marie, thanks for all the neat images. I feel like I’m following the seasonal change for PEI just as much as right here in Seattle. Great post! John
The nature is amazing, you can feel the winter is coming. Thank you for taking us on a walk around your island. It's wonderful!
On a recent walk in a local park, we counted at least a 100 Mallard ducks. My photos were not nearly as good as yours, Marie. I agree that these are quite lovely ducks especially the males. The red squirrel was mu favorite as well.
I wonder if the Mallard ducks lives all over the world.
You knew you had me with that title, right? Your area is still the only area that I know that I have seen a Black Duck. Love that hybrid, so interesting!
Amazing and spectacular shots dear Marie !
it makes heart little sad to see that winters are approaching near in your area and colorful views will fade away :(
everything here is bound to the cycle indeed
the squirrel photo is so lovely
Mallards and Black Ducks may be common but they are eternally fascinating.
I love the contrasting images and the red quirrel is the cutest! Great shot.
Adore that lovely photo of the red squirrel. What a cutie. The mallard ducks are absolutely stunning...so many lovely birds. Glad to read it warmed up enough for you to enjoy some time with your friend and a cup of pumpkin spice coffee along the beach. Yes savor the days while they last. Hugs!
Oh I love ducks!! Thank you for sharing the photo of the hybrid Duck, that green is pretty awesome! Everyday, I go try to go on a quick nature walk by my house. My 3 year old lab comes with me and he loves swimming in dam with the ducks. Last week, I didn't put his leash on right and he took off into the mud and I had to call and get professional upholstery cleaning Evanston after he got home and jumped on the couch. It makes me want the snow to come a little faster so it's not so muddy outside! Have a great day:)
I love your duck pictures! They really are lovelier than a lot of people realize. When we were living in England, there was a manor house somewhere, I think in Kent, that had a Duckery. It was fascinating to see all of the varieties that they had.
What a ducky post lol. Lovely pictures and post as always.
We are 46 F and the wind is blowing. I am tucked in for the evening.
Cathy
I love how you’ve painted such a serene picture of the salt marsh, with the Mallards and Black Ducks adding vibrant color to the scene. The sight of a hybrid duck is a delightful surprise, showcasing nature’s unpredictable beauty. It’s always special to observe the subtle changes in wildlife, especially when the seasons shift. Your observations really capture the quiet magic of the marsh this time of year.
I just shared a blog, please let me know what you think
What a beautiful part of the world you live in. I love the ducks. As we head into summer here in North Queensland you are enjoying cooler climes. So cosy.
The season seemed to change pretty quickly. Can't believe how cold it got so fast. The ducks are beautiful and you captured a great shot of that squirrel .
Beautiful pictures!
Love from Titti
Post a Comment