Waterfowl of 2012

Though I have been missing in action here on Blogger, I still have gotten out on occasion to take in the air and feel the winds. I want to share some of the better photos that I was able to take last year, starting with waterfowl. The hikes I made at the marsh came in May and June, and this past hunting season, where I wasn't after photos. Usually I get to the marsh more often, but in June things started changing around here with the addition of a new puppy and in August some laying hens. We'll get to them later, as this will not completely be a nature photo blog.

For now, some waterfowl. Canada geese to start :

I am not able to get real good close-ups with the little point-and-shoots that I use, but this is getting pretty close to a wary Sandhill crane. A goose was put on alert, too -

I really like this photo because it shows a hen wood duck raising a merganser chick. Hooded mergansers will often lay eggs is wood duck nests.

A couple of other marsh birds whose names are escaping me at the moment. I'll edit them in later.

I'm already looking forward to the waterfowl migrating back through in the spring. Love hearing the pintails peeping and whistling overhead.

Anyway, there will be more nature photos from last year coming through shortly. Hopefully before I get too busy with the 2013 photos.