Ducks on the move

As the ice melts off the lake at Peace Valley Park, small flocks of ducks are dropping in as they make their way north. Yesterday I saw 12 Ring-necked Ducks, 10 Northern Pintail, a dozen Green-winged Teal, and 1 American Wigeon with the more regular Black Ducks, Mallards, and hundreds of Common Mergansers. Today, there was only one Northern Pintail, but six American Wigeon, two Bufflehead, and several hundred more Common Mergansers.

Yesterday I also saw my first Fox Sparrow of the spring, and others are reporting Tree Swallows arriving in the state. Spring is in the air!