Steve Sanford
Well-known member
All~
Our Southeast Zone here in New York opened this morning. Like lots of areas, the drought has wrought havoc with many duck waters. Unlike other areas, though, our season opened about 10 days earlier than usual. Whereas we typically open on the Columbus Day weekend - with the fall colors near peak - for some inexplicable reason we opened with the woods and marshes in their late-summer greens with a few browns, and only the occasional splash of red or yellow up in the trees.
Nevertheless, we had a fine morning - but with little duck activity in a small pond/marsh that sits among farm fields, not too far from the Batten Kill.
The grey skies made photography a little challenging - and as has happened so often this year - the predicted rains never fell. But, the Barred Owls greeted us early on - and a bunch of Turkeys kept the airwaves interesting.
Our "blinds" - erected earlier in the week with bunches of Goldenrod lashed in place - were an improvement over previous hides.
We Easterners flout fashion convention - at least when it comes to face masks.....
One Drake Mallard was a team effort - with Boo doing most of the leg work.
We all enjoyed the amenity of the Gentlemen's Boulevard - thanks to a brief session with a weed wacker with a solid blade a couple of weeks ago.
I always liked the Latin name of Woolgrass: Scirpus cyperinus means "the bulrush that looks like a sedge".
Most of the Goldenrods have gone to seed.
But a few still provide that rare splash of color.
Here's that little black patch at the base of the bill on Mallards and Blacks - the "tobacco lips" - important to remember when re-painting the rig.
Here's the best "splash of color" of all.
All the best,
SJS
Our Southeast Zone here in New York opened this morning. Like lots of areas, the drought has wrought havoc with many duck waters. Unlike other areas, though, our season opened about 10 days earlier than usual. Whereas we typically open on the Columbus Day weekend - with the fall colors near peak - for some inexplicable reason we opened with the woods and marshes in their late-summer greens with a few browns, and only the occasional splash of red or yellow up in the trees.
Nevertheless, we had a fine morning - but with little duck activity in a small pond/marsh that sits among farm fields, not too far from the Batten Kill.
The grey skies made photography a little challenging - and as has happened so often this year - the predicted rains never fell. But, the Barred Owls greeted us early on - and a bunch of Turkeys kept the airwaves interesting.
Our "blinds" - erected earlier in the week with bunches of Goldenrod lashed in place - were an improvement over previous hides.
We Easterners flout fashion convention - at least when it comes to face masks.....
One Drake Mallard was a team effort - with Boo doing most of the leg work.
We all enjoyed the amenity of the Gentlemen's Boulevard - thanks to a brief session with a weed wacker with a solid blade a couple of weeks ago.
I always liked the Latin name of Woolgrass: Scirpus cyperinus means "the bulrush that looks like a sedge".
Most of the Goldenrods have gone to seed.
But a few still provide that rare splash of color.
Here's that little black patch at the base of the bill on Mallards and Blacks - the "tobacco lips" - important to remember when re-painting the rig.
Here's the best "splash of color" of all.
All the best,
SJS
