The Martins Creek Area and the Nazareth Quarry ~ February 21, 2026

This morning, I drove up to the Martins Creek Environmental Preserve. As I arrived, a male Northern Harrier flew across the road. At the fenced-in basin, I found one Snow Goose among around 150 Canada Geese, 18 Redheads, 106 Ring-necked Ducks, 3 Greater Scaup, 2 Buffleheads, a Common Merganser, 6 Turkey Vultures, 5 Black Vultures, a Bald Eagle, and 2 Common Ravens.

I went down to the Martins Creek PPL boat launch area where I found 2 Mute Swans, 2 Buffleheads, one Common Goldeneye, 5 Hooded Mergansers, one Common Merganser, and an adult Bald Eagle.

The Nazareth Quarry has been exceptional this winter, mainly because it's been the largest unfrozen body of water in the area. Today's stop produced four of the five continuing White-winged Scoters, the Long-tailed Duck, and the continuing female Red-breasted Merganser.

The continuing female Long-tailed Duck.

The continuing female Red-breasted Merganser.

I picked out a Cackling Goose among the roughly 300 Canada Geese, and also saw my 'first of the year' American Wigeon.

A Cackling Goose (at center).

American Wigeon

Other notables included 3 Wood Ducks, 5 Northern Shovelers, 3 American Black Ducks, 13 Redheads, 4 Ring-necked Ducks, 9 Greater Scaup, 12 Buffleheads, 15 Common Mergansers, 4 Hooded Mergansers, around 40 Ruddy Ducks, 16 American Coots, a Pied-billed Grebe, 9 Ring-billed Gulls, a Common Raven, and 2 Red-winged Blackbirds.

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