Category: ducks

A day where you really had to look and see what there was

A great egret near a lake at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 1/15/23.

A desert cottontail bolted when it saw me approaching yesterday in a scrubland section at my go-to park as of late: Floyd Lamb. I guess this behavior surprised me, because at Clark County Wetlands Park, the cottontails are more generous than that: they will let you stand there and stare for a bit, as long as you keep your distance (maybe about 15-20 feet).

I think the one at Floyd Lamb was more skittish due to the exposed area where it roamed, vs. at the wetlands, where there’s so much vegetation in most places, making for good hiding in a pinch, eg, the willow or reed thickets. Continue reading A day where you really had to look and see what there was

Possible beetle eggs and a duck rumpus

A Bewick’s wren searches for insects at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, Dec. 18, 2022.

I think there might be a bounty of insect eggs on the forest floor in a remote spot at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs. I was at the park Sunday morning and spotted what looked as if someone snapped a pearl necklace and the pearls dispersed in the bed of dead leaves, twigs and branches. Maybe it’s the reproductive work of beetles? I’ll take a photo next time and post it here.

Passing by one of the lakes, a squabble broke out among ducks. Always comical to watch these otherwise serene creatures up in arms. There was a sudden din of quacks, and then one duck lunged at another, creating a splash. There were about 5 or 6 of ’em, having it out in this one tiny section of the water, even though the rest of the lake was empty. I saw mallards and American coots involved in the skirmish. Continue reading Possible beetle eggs and a duck rumpus

The vibe near the pond at Sunset Park

Female mallard preening.

If you’re a Sunset Park newbie, just follow the sound of honking ducks to locate the pond. It’s only about 100 yards from the main entrance on Sunset Road.

When it was my first time there, I noted that the pond smelled like the ocean. It was cool and damp by the ledge, as if seaside. In the distance, I even spotted a man fly fishing. Continue reading The vibe near the pond at Sunset Park