Returning waterfowl
The first waterfowl to return to our cove at Finger Lake were a pair of Mallard ducks, April 28, 2006. It has been a cold Spring this year in Alaska, and the break-up of ice on the lake is slow. April 29 yielded three pair of Barrows Golden Eye ducks, and by April 30, our little cove held the Mallards, the Barrows Golden Eyes, 4 Bonaparte Gulls and a Bald Eagle watching the scene from a perch on a dying Cottonwood tree.
May 1, our little open water space had at least thirty ducks. All of the original ducks were present and Northern Pintails, and Northern Shovelers showed up. Later in the day a pair of Common Golden Eye joined the group. What a beautiful duck! The white spot on the cheek is round, not tear shaped like the Barrows Golden Eye, and it has a lot more white on the body. By May 2 we had over fifty ducks, the newest members were the American Wigeon. May 3 the Greater Scaup appeared in a group of 6-10, and by noon that day the cove was empty! Then I notice two Red Necked Grebes. They had pretty much attacked by diving under water, and scared all the other ducks away.
So, from that day on, our little cove grew larger and larger as the ice melted and the Red Necked Grebes held court. The only duck to out manuver the Grebes are the pair of Mallards. This seems to be the combination that will stay with us this summer. Most of the ice retreated to the west end of the lake on May 5, and the first boats appeared that evening like a parade going round and round the island in a celebration of break-up!! Let the water activities begin!
Alaska Artist Gail Niebrugge
