Could It Be?

  It is the time of the year that the Bayou is a temporary home to a lot of migrating birds.  Among these are a lot of ducks and other waterfowl that we do not ordinarily see in these parts.  I am always happy to see the birds fly in to visit for a while and I try to identify each and every one.  Sometimes, I find that difficult as, just as soon as I think I have a positive identification, something throws me off.  That happened today and I am still in a quandary as to who my visitors are.

  Along about noon, I made a quick trip to the pier.  A happy surprise awaited me when I came across several ducks swimming near the pier.  At first, I had thoughts that my friends, the Hooded Mergansers, had returned but once I was near, I could tell that was not the case.  These birds were different.  Ok, so maybe a different group had drifted in for a stay.  Perhaps, these were not mergansers at all.  Perhaps, this was wishful thinking on my part.  

  After photographing the birds while trying to protect the camera from the drizzly rain, I headed back to the Little Bayou House with pictures that I hoped were clear enough for an identification.  It was disappointing to find that the photographs were not clear due to the mist.  Still, I had hopes.  After looking at dozens of pictures, a decision was made that perhaps I had some Common Mergansers as guests on the Bayou.  Well, that idea was short lived as it seems that we are out of their range even during migration.  Searching a bit more. I decided that maybe these are Red-breasted Mergansers!  That would be a first for us! They sure resembled the Red-breasted Mergansers.  Maybe some took a swing our way during their migration flight and opted to stay on the Bayou for a bit.  I can hope, right?

  Even at this late of hour, I am convinced that my birds may just have been a bit off course of their usual path.  Perhaps tomorrow, I can get better photographs.  My curiosity is nagging at me!  How nice would it be to have some new faces among the crowd??