Finally! A Few Lesser Scaups in the Neighborhood

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Normally Winter Garden is a good place to find Lesser Scaups in the winter.  They like our retention ponds, and can often be found in groups of 40 or 50 birds.  But not this year.  They waited until March to show up, and we saw about 10 of them on our pond this week.  I think they have left already.

Lesser Scaup (Male)
Lesser Scaup (Male)

I ran down to the golf course last Sunday to snap a few photos while the birds were here.  I love how the male’s feathers gleam in the sunlight.  His head can appear green and purple depending on how the light falls on him.

Lesser Scaups (Female in Front, Male Behind)
Lesser Scaups (Female in Front, Male Behind)

I only got a few pictures before I got run off the golf course.  At least the birds posed nicely for the short time I was there!