A Prairie Slough

One of the things I missed most during my several decades of city dwelling was the Prairie Slough. 

A Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos, hen and chicks

Prairie sloughs are simply the most peaceful, relaxing and interesting places on earth.

Black Terns, Chlidonias niger.

An Upland Sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda

sky watching.

A family of Northern Shovelers, Anas clypeata

A Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps, quietly floating, sorry about the shadows.

A displaying male Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis.  These guys remind me of little tug-boats.

And what prairie slough would be complete without a bunch of Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus, squawking away

A perfect afternoon, even with a few mosquito bites.

Yellow-headed Blackbirds

Masses and masses of Yellow-headed Blackbirds at a slough complex near Crosby, NoDak.  This particular slough is always a good spot for waterfowl, however, yesterday it was a staging ground for 750+ of my favourite blackbirds.  The road, ND Hwy #5, goes pretty well nowhere in either direction, and is usually busy.  Yesterday was no exception.  The birds would fly up each time a vehicle passed. 

Whitewater Lake with Yellow-headed Blackbirds

I LOVE Yellow-headed Blackbirds; they are so handsome and so funny to watch.