The last of the ducks
The big flocks of ducks do not hang around. By the time the first hard frosts settle on the sloughs, most of the waterfowl on the prairie are already moving south, and the water that was crowded a few weeks ago goes quiet. For a short stretch the ones still here are the late ones: the divers, the mergansers, and the stragglers waiting for the ice to push them out. These are eight photographs of ducks in Manitoba from that window.
The common goldeneye is one of the last ducks to leave. It tends to stay until the ice finally closes the water, so this is often the bird still working the open patches when everything else has gone. This one was in a hurry, wings beating hard and the white cheek patch bright against the blue.
Red-breasted mergansers were next, a pair riding the amber reflections of the shoreline reeds. The shaggy crest is the giveaway, even at a distance. They fish by diving, which means they can keep feeding right up until the water freezes.
A northern shoveler drake, still in full colour. That big spoon-shaped bill is made for sifting food out of shallow water, and it gives the bird a front-heavy look that is hard to mistake for anything else.
The shovelers do not stay long once the shallow water starts to skim over. Here a small group lifts off together, and the whole marsh seems to be going with them.
A hooded merganser, caught mid-takeoff at the water’s edge. They are small and quick, and by the time you have seen one it is usually already gone.
An American wigeon sliding along the edge of the cattails. The green swipe behind the eye is a reminder that even in a brown marsh, these birds carry some real colour.
The gadwall is the quiet one, all subtle greys and browns, so I always like it when one makes a splash. This one was shaking out its wings in the open water with plenty of spray.
The last photo might be the best sign of the season. A common merganser flies past bare branches, and the trees are already telling you what is coming.
Where to see ducks in Manitoba
Look for ducks in Manitoba on open water near marshes and lake edges, and go early in the day when the water is calm. In late October the divers and mergansers are often the ones still around, because they stay as long as there is open water. For recent sightings near you, check eBird or Birds Canada.
The ducks do not stay long, but the marshes are worth a look until the ice arrives. You can see more in the Manitoba birds section, or share this post with someone who likes watching the water.
