[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.105″ custom_margin=”|0px||0px” custom_padding=”|0px||0px”][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” parallax_method_1=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.105″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Outing Description” _builder_version=”3.17.2″ text_font=”||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”10px||10px|” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” use_border_color=”off”]<\/p>\n
It\u2019s getting late in the year, and colder now. My goal for today was to find some more ducks. I know I\u2019ve got gaps and am missing quite a few. So I first stopped by the eastern end of the Truckee marsh, parking at Lily Lane to access the wetlands. I ran into my fellow birders, Jenny and Bob Sweatt. They hadn\u2019t seen anything new and were heading over to the other side of the marsh; Jenny told me about where she\u2019d seen the Black-Crowned Night Herons \u2013 so I could look for them later \u2013 so nice of her. I continued out into the marsh, and observed a number of mid-sized black-and-white ducks that I later identified as Bufflehead<\/strong> ducks. The lake was beautifully smooth, making for some nice reflection shots, so I was glad I carried my tripod. I identified a lone Northern Shoveler<\/strong> duck, which I had not seen before here; the male develops brighter plumage around this time of year, and its large bill is unmistakable. (I was told that since I\u2019d started my TBY participation late (in mid April) that I probably missed some of the migrating ducks the previous winter. A number of sparrows were popping in and out of the willow bushes, keeping a cautious eye on me. I identified several as Savannah Sparrows which I\u2019d seen previously but not up so close. Similarly, I saw a Horned Lark on the beach \u2013 it was much closer that the previous pair I\u2019d seen at the Pomin Park field trip.<\/p>\n I went to look for the Black-Crowned Night Herons, but I couldn\u2019t find them. Later when I got home and was reviewing my photos, I found I\u2019d captured a different duck. The TINS Facebook group confirmed it was a Surf Scoter<\/strong>. This was exciting since I was the first observer of this particular duck this year. Score!<\/p>\n Today I added\u00a03 species to my Tahoe Big Year\u00a0list.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.judyduffyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/JDP-TBY-20181026-2926.jpg” _builder_version=”3.17.2″ module_alignment=”center” custom_padding=”0px||10px|” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ show_in_lightbox=”on” title_text=”Click to zoom in.” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Image Caption” _builder_version=”3.17.2″ text_font=”||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” use_border_color=”off” text_orientation=”center”]<\/p>\n Great Blue Heron<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.judyduffyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/JDP-TBY-20181026-2631.jpg” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.17.2″ custom_padding=”170px||5px|” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ show_in_lightbox=”on” title_text=”Click to zoom in.” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Image Caption” _builder_version=”3.17.2″ text_font=”||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” use_border_color=”off” text_orientation=”center”]<\/p>\n Savannah Sparrow<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.judyduffyphotography.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/JDP-TBY-20181026-3013.jpg” align=”center” _builder_version=”3.17.2″ custom_padding=”20px||5px|” box_shadow_style=”preset1″ show_in_lightbox=”on” title_text=”Click to zoom in.” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” \/][et_pb_text admin_label=”Image Caption” _builder_version=”3.17.2″ text_font=”||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” use_border_color=”off” text_orientation=”center”]<\/p>\n Common Merganser<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” background_color=”#ffffff” parallax_method=”off” parallax_method_1=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.0.105″ make_fullwidth=”on”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Gallery Container” text_font_size=”20″ background_color=”#ffffff” use_border_color=”off” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial” _builder_version=”3.17.2″ link_text_color=”#000000″]<\/p>\n