2018 Redhead Season...

William Wise Photo Nature Notes is a wildlife, birding and nature photography blog documenting the wonders of God’s creation.

​Jeremiah 8:7 The stork knows the time of her migration, as does the turtledove, the crane, and the swallow. They all return at God’s appointed time each year...

Wednesday, January 10, 2018 - the first three Redhead ducks arrive for the season

Daily Redhead counts this season:

1/10/18 - 3, first arrival
1/11/18 - 4
1/12/18 - 3
1/16/18 -30
1/18/18 - 25
1/19/18 - 26
1/22/18 - 46, highest count
1/23/18 - 37
1/24/18 - 17
1/26/18 - 18

1/29/18 - 26
1/30/18 - 21
​2/1/18 - 11
2/2/18 - 16
2/5/18 - 8
2/6/18 - 6​
2/7/18 - 6
2/9/18 - 2
2/12/18 - 1 male
2/16/18 - 1 male, last sighting

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The following day, Thursday, January 11, one more male arrived to join the trio. But the drizzly gray day kept the camera away.

​Wednesday, January 10, 2018; 8:15 AM - The holiday season is often about reuniting with relatives that we haven’t seen in quite some time. Some of those relatives are enjoyable; but some make the hair on our neck stand up when we hear their voice. But there are also those beloved family members who truly make our hearts leap for joy when we see them again for the Christmas holidays.
 
One of those loved ones that I enjoy the return of each year are the Redhead ducks. Just after the new year, for at least the last four or five years that I’ve observed, Redhead ducks return to the retention pond behind the animal shelter here in Walton County; some years arriving as early as the 2nd of January. So far this year I’ve gone out every day to see if they arrived. No such luck.
 
But this morning, although a little bit later than other years, my heart had a leap for joy as I spotted a few small ducks diving on the far end of the pond. Our resident Mallards are dabblers, no divers. So I knew it wasn’t them. As I snuck closer, they performed a synchronized dive I knew the Redheads had returned for another season. It was just a trio; two red-headed males and one brown female. I was excited but I had work to do. Seven more new dogs had arrived and I was way behind. On my lunch break I skipped my treadmill session and grabbed my tripod and Tele converter and headed up to the pond. I spent the entire hour trying to grab some photos. 

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​Walton County, Georgia
Mostly cloudy; high 60°, low 49°
Sunrise 7:39 AM, Sunset 5:43 PM
Day length: 10 hours, 3 minutes
Moon: 35% waning crescent

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​Tuesday, January 16, 2018 - After a three day weekend I was anxious to come back to work to see if any more Redheads had gathered on the shelter pond. As I arrived, I caught a glimpse through the trees of a larger gathering of ducks on the pond. Instead of driving straight to the front office, I rode around the backside to the pond. What a wonderful sight: 30 redheads! A good mixture of males and females.

January 18, 2018, 9:50 AM - Arriving at the animal shelter just after 8 AM because of a late start due to ice, I drove around back to the pond. Out on the water were about 25 redheads. I didn’t get an exact count but the numbers looked a little bit lower than Tuesday.

January 19, 2018 - Friday, 4:20 PM. Still a strong 26 Redheads on the shelter pond.

January 23, 2018 - 37 Redheads. Just a few down from yesterday's highest count of 46.

January 30 - Lunchtime. I hid behind a tire behind the Fleet Maintenance shop for 20 minutes waiting for the Redheads to come near me from across the other side of the pond. Lots of sun, but not too much warmth from it today. 43°, wind chill 30°. The west-northwest wind about 8 mph. Approximately 21 Redheads still swim on the shelter pond.

January 30, 2018 - Redhead duck, Aythya americana, waterfowl flock on an open water blue lake. These sociable ducks molt, migrate, and winter in huge flocks where winter numbers can reach the thousands. Similar appearance to Canvasback duck. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA.

January 30, 2018 - Redhead duck, Aythya americana, waterfowl flock on an open water blue lake. These sociable ducks molt, migrate, and winter in huge flocks where winter numbers can reach the thousands. Similar appearance to Canvasback duck. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA.

January 31, 2018 - Redhead duck, Aythya americana, waterfowl flock on an open water blue lake. These sociable ducks molt, migrate, and winter in huge flocks where winter numbers can reach the thousands. Similar appearance to Canvasback duck. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA.

January 31, 2018 - Redhead duck, Aythya americana, waterfowl flock on an open water blue lake. These sociable ducks molt, migrate, and winter in huge flocks where winter numbers can reach the thousands. Similar appearance to Canvasback duck. Photographed on wildlife birding hike in Walton County, Georgia, USA.

​Thursday, February 15, 2018 – 12:12 PM – only one Redhead Duck left on the pond; a red-headed drake. He was hanging out on the bank near the “mutt ducks” for company and allowed me to get fairly close. The next day, February 16, was the last day that I saw him. Unless they make a return, the 2018 Redhead season has come to a close. 

2/15/18, the last Redhead on the pond

2/15/18, the last Redhead on the pond

2/15/18, the last Redhead on the pond

On February 16, 2018, the last Redhead Duck left the pond for the 2018 season. See you next year!