Winter Water Fowl of the James River

February is always a tough month for me. Gray days, cold, snow or drizzle. The "Februaries" to me translates into too much sitting around snacking and general malaise. Travels to my local bird haunts produce very little activity with the occasional surprise like the beautiful Meadowlarks at Pleasant Grove Park in Fluvanna county. Heading to the coast is a great option to photograph the many water fowl that hang out in the estuaries and tidal basins. Our James River water basin is a wonderful spot in  winter and if you can catch a bright day you are in for a treat. One of the closest "Hot Spots" in Virginia is the Dutch Gap Conservation area on the James River south of Richmond Virginia. This would normally be an hour and a half drive from home but being that we are staying in Richmond for our annual Grandson - sitting, we are only a half hour away.

The Dutch Gap Conservation area is surrounded by the Dominion Electric Companies Power plant. It's amazes me how many of our refuges are on land that surrounds such operations. I'm thinking also of the wonderful Merritt Island NWR situated in Florida on Cape Kennedy Space Center. I guess wildlife centers are good use of land that substitutes for toxic clean-up of old industrial sites. However it gets done...I'm a fan. I understand that the notorious Meadowlands in New Jersey has become a wonderful birding site.

Dutch Gap is a sheltered estuary on the James that on this particular day was a great spot for water fowl to take a break from the high winds and have a good meal. Ducks as you may know can be divided into Dabblers and Divers. Dabblers do just that - eating bugs and organic material within a "flips" reach. Divers can actually dive and swim under water to grab a small fish, a crayfish or a juicy  hemalgramite. On my morning outing I saw both. The following are some favorite pictures from this outing.  Don't be discouraged - Spring is just around the bend!

Common Mallards - Dabblers but still a lovely bird - male and female

Ring-necked Ducks - Divers - Having a "Bad Hair" day with a windy gust.

Beautiful male and female Northern Pintails - Mom is colored for hiding in the nest and Dad is dressed for show to attract the ladies. Common trait among most birds. 

A row of male and female American Wigeons

Beautiful male American Wigeon - over 30 this morning

Northern Shovelers - with their shovel like beaks - Good for Dabbling and scooping.

A beautiful male and female Wood Duck with an American Wigeon in the middle and photo bombing the foreground

Subtle beauty of the Gadwalls.

Canada Geese "Never Canadian" 

Canada Geese in flight

A Gadwall being watched by two Slider turtles - Out for a mild February Day.

A grouping of male and female Ring-necked Ducks - Coolest beaks in the duck world!

Have to get my field guide on this one - Wood duck yes but not sure who's out in front - Another Gadwall couple?

I hope you enjoyed my little sojourn. Beauty abounds everywhere...even near an electric coal fired power plant in February. Get outside and take a rejuvenating walk. Nurture your inner-child sense of wonder. Fight the "Februaries".