Early Spring migrants

[SilentBirdHunter]

Spring has sprung in western Montana.
Redwing blackbirds arrived last week.

Mountain bluebird and western meadowlark from this morning.

And mallards adding to our resident population

 

[Schaaf]

Hell yeah. I’ve noticed the sky rats have really started showing up over here this week.

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

Hell yeah. I’ve noticed the sky rats have really started showing up over here this week.

I'm waiting for pintails to photograph...they don't breed here like they do on the east side,
so pintail photos are a few weeks at most and they are gone.

 

[Keep on]

Saw some greater scaup on the lake yesterday on the drive home. Seen some wrens on the bird geeder this week that weren't there all winter.
In my area we usually get a better spring migration than in the fall. It seems like they make short hops in the spring vs longer flights in the fall.

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

 

[RealMuddyboots]

Really nice composition work!

 

[Mallardsx2]

Mallards are so pretty in the spring.

 

[NDGuy]

Mallards are so pretty in the spring.

I wish we could get a “duck tag” in the spring just to try to take a gorgeous drake mallard/pintail/widgeo etc in its prime plumage stage.

 

[seeth07]

I wish we could get a “duck tag” in the spring just to try to take a gorgeous drake mallard/pintail/widgeo etc in its prime plumage stage.

I'd pay 50 bucks or so to get a any duck tag valid march1 to April 1

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

I'd pay 50 bucks or so to get a any duck tag valid march1 to April 1

When I lived in Alaska there was a "spring subsistence" season
for villages and also smaller towns like Nenana, Delta, Tok qualified.
Cranes, geese and ducks.

The regular fall season started Sept 1, so 10 "brown ducks" was
the daily limit, 30 in possession. Usually did not see a greenhead
until late September/early October.

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

Widgeon from yesterday.
They were the most common duck we shot during the AK September season.
Good eating there. I hear they are not good eating in saltwater areas like coastal OR/WA.

 

[brownbear932008]

I see pintails.

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

Not a migrant, but spring calving season.
Eagles are attracted to the afterbirth.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Some really great photos.

 

[SilentBirdHunter]

A few photos from yesterday...none are migrants.
I did see shovelers showing up, so hopefully some new spring migrants any day now.

 

[Salmonchaser]

You are getting some great shots. You’re going to be famous!

 

[Gravelyctry]

I really enjoy seeing your photos. Thanks for sharing!