Waterfowl - Patrick J. Blake Photography
An inlet in the southeastern corner of Serpentine Lake in the Christmas Mountains.  Water flowing downhill from the nearby mountains empties into this small pond, which continues to flow into the much larger Serpentine Lake.  Our research team would often see bald eagles and western osprey fishing the waters of Serpentine Lake.<br /> <br /> Although this pond is very shallow, it is also very tranquil, with a small series of waterfalls just to the left, where the mountain streams empties into the pond.  It takes little imagination to consider putting a cabin near the shore here.<br /> <br /> Photo taken 19 June 2010.

Lesser Scaup (female)
Aythya affinis
Andrew Haydon Park, Ottawa, Ontario
16 November 2008

Lesser scaup very closely resemble their cousin the greater scaup (A. marila).  From a distance, it is virtually impossible to distinguish the two unless they are right next to each other.  However, when viewed up close, the shape and size of the head and thickness of the beak can be helpful field markers in identification.

birdduckscauplesser scaupaythya affinis