Gadwall (Mareca strepera) at Abbott Marshland

Sunday 12 January 2025 I spotted this pair of Gadwall ducks (Mareca strepera) gliding through the icy water, unfazed by the cold. The male, with his subtle grey plumage and black bill, swam alongside the mottled brown female, both moving effortlessly between frozen patches of and open water. They weren’t in a hurry—just drifting, occasionally dipping their heads beneath the surface in search of food. Gadwalls aren’t flashy like Wood Ducks or Mallards, but I found their understated […]

https://islandinthenet.com/gadwall-mareca-strepera/

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) at Abbott Marshlands

Sunday 12 January 2025 I was just about ready to pack up and head home when I noticed a group of Northern Pintails (Anas acuta), along with some Gadwalls and Mallards, gathered on the frozen wetland. Of course, that meant I wasn’t leaving just yet. In the first shot, a male Northern Pintail stands on the ice, his sleek form and striking plumage catching the light. That rich chocolate-brown head, crisp white neck, and sharp black accents make him look almost regal. The frozen marsh, with […]

https://islandinthenet.com/northern-pintail-anas-acuta/

White-throated Sparrow at Abbott Marshlands

While walking toward the area east of Spring Lake toward the Abbott Brook and Watson Woods Trails I heard and saw multiple calls from White-throated Sparrow. I stopped and waited a few minutes. It was not long before a White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) perched on a thin branch among a tangle of bare twigs and brambles. The bird’s puffed-up plumage, white throat patch, and distinctive black-and-yellow striped head stand out. In the second image, the sparrow faces forward, […]

https://islandinthenet.com/white-throated-sparrow-at-abbott-marshlands/