A Winter Afternoon

 Burke Lake Park, in Fairfax County, Va. is often a good place to see lots of wintering waterfowl , especially in late February.  Over 200 Common Mergansers, along with other waterfowl, had been seen on the lake on February 26th.  So, I spent two cold, but useful, hours there the following afternoon. 
 Initially, I visited the small parking and boat launch area reserved for fishing by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland fisheries, which actually owns the lake.  I wanted to scan that end of the lake as a guide as to where to hike in.  Much to my surprise, I found an adult, Red-shouldered Hawk pecking away at the ice; it soon took flight and flew right in front of me. 

 

                                Notice the small fish in it's talons.

        Just before it flew past me, I had seen it sitting on the ice eating a small fish.

   Fish is an unusual prey item for a Red-shouldered hawk, which usually eats small mammals, snakes, amphibians, or other birds. It must have been a hard winter for this raptor.

As I was hiking in to where I thought I could get some good light on most of the birds on the lake, I noticed this adult, male, Red-breasted Merganser (in full breeding plumage) slowly swimming near the trail.

                       What a serenely beautiful bird.

  When I finally arrived at my observation point, there were many Common Mergansers on the far side of the water.

  

  There were many more Common Mergansers, both spread out on the water and in large groups, than the 22 in this image. The green-headed, orange-billed males and the brown-headed females both show adult breeding plumage.

       Adult, male Common Merganser taking flight.

       Adult, female Common Merganser in flight. This bird appears to have a fish in it's mouth.

   The dark-green head, bright-orange bill and legs, and the bold black-and-white, upper-wing pattern make this adult, male Common Merganser a striking bird in flight.

         Adult, male and female Common Mergansers in flight.

  I also discovered these White-winged Scoters (a quite unusual bird for Burke lake), probably there because of the very cold winter this year.  The dark-black, male (on the right), has the orange bill and bright-white "eye comma," of a breeding plumage bird. Behind the male appears to be a female, and then perhaps a first-winter (non-breeding) male . 

  The bright-white patches on the upper wing of this adult, male White-winged Scoter, landing on the water, are what give the bird it's name. 

 I also saw, but could not photograph an adult, female, Common Goldeneye, numerous Lessor Scaup, Ring-necked ducks, and Bufflelhead, Ruddy ducks, several Horned Grebes, a Red-necked Grebe, and two adult Blad eagles flying and interacting together over the far shore (there is an active eagle nest just across the lake from the park marina area).
  Before long, the warblers and other songbirds of Spring will arrive in the woods surrounding the lake, and the ducks and other waterfowl will fly off to breed again.  Best to see them when one can.