Water and Land Fowl

On April 1 & 3, a new duck appeared at the Chelsea "farmhouse" office pond. He's a ring-necked duck and is migrating back to Canada or N. US. There was a gal pal with him, but she turned out to be a female merganser.

Finally got to see a Northern (yellow-shafted) Flicker up close as they hopped in the front yard of Chelsea office. The males have the black whisker stripe, or malar, but both sexes have the other black and red markings.

A friend got this pic of a Tundra Swan on 3-19 on the Patuxent in So. MD. The bill is not solid black yet, indicating it's a young adult. A coot is in front of him, to left in picture.