Yesterday morning the sun actually shone bright, in short it was not “dreich” (read definition from the BBC)! I left the house at 7:00 am on an “open water quest”. I reasoned if I found open water, I might find birds migrating back to the Northland. Just when it appeared my quest would be a failure … all the lakes and ponds were still iced shut with zero “black ice” … I checked the Rice Lake outlet. Current at the lake’s outlet created a small area of open water, and waterfowl were there aplenty!

One of the species in greatest abundance were Trumpeter Swans, and love was in the air (or at least on the water)!

A lone Canada Goose inspected some feeding swans

Although Rice Lake is not a suitable breeding pond, A Trumpeter Swan asks the Canada Swan to move along! Swans and Geese don’t get along.

Apparently this duo is a couple!

Trumpeter Swans Mating

Was it as good for you as it was for me?!

Hanging our together a short time later …

Had a unique experience this morning shortly after sunrise. While watching some ducks at the Rice Lake Dam just north of Duluth, I discovered a bird which was a bit odd. Enter into the equation a hybrid (or a “hybird”) between a Goldeneye and a Hooded Merganser.

Jean Iron’s blog on the same hybrid bird was helpful in making a positive ID.

• View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon images to view at full size)