One of the beautiful thing about nature is, if you go out searching for something, she’ll surprise you with something else. We had a couple of hours of free time this afternoon so we decided to head to Nanisivik so I could seek out a bird that I hadn’t seen for awhile, the Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula). I knew that they nest at the water lake at Nanisivik, but I really didn’t have it narrowed down more than that, and my source had long since moved away. We drove the myriad of roads around the various ponds there with no luck but then in a little pond I saw a Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) right next to the road. We stopped and had some really good looks with the binoculars and then parked the car. Travis and I then went walking to look for the Plover. As we did the Loon, of course, flew away.
Now we hadn’t gotten very far when she flew back to the pond, even with the truck still parked there and I thought Hmmm. After a little hike, some mud, and one drake Old Squaw (sorry Long-tailed Duck sheesh) (Clangula hymalis) we still hadn’t found our Plovers and worked our way back to the truck. As we started to drive we again flushed the Loon, and it was only then that I noticed the nest, with one egg in it, literally 10 metres from the road. Granted it isn’t a heavily travelled road but the odd vehicle goes by. And that drive to reproduce is one of the many beautiful things about all living things.
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Do I detect a hint of political correctness there Clare, or simply a lament for a familiar old name. Chestnut-breasted Shelduck will always be Mountain Duck, or Mounties to me, even though I’ve rarely seen them in the mountains!
There is something about the nesting season that does so poignantly conveys the reproductive drive. We’ve watched a tree swallow build a nest in a nest box, and now watch the male wait there while his mate goes for food. It is beautiful to watch their dance.
I bet Travis loved this adventure.
probably a bit of both Duncan. Long-tailed Duck seems like a pretty un-imaginative name to me. (I have an Abbott and Costello-esq skit running through my mind of a neophyte and experience birder talking… “What’s that long-tailed duck called?””Long-tailed Duck””Yes that one.””Long-tailed duck””Yes, what is it called?””LONG TAILED DUCK!”)
I was surprised to learn that it was re-named and I’m assuming that it was thought not politically correct. I’m guessing (only guessing) that the name comes from their voice, which sounds to me like old women speaking cree.
Travis did love the outing Robin Andrea. Any excuse to be outside. We only got a little muddy.