Nazareth Quarry, Green Pond, and the Newburg Road Pond ~ March 12, 2025

I went to the Nazareth Quarry around 4:00 in the afternoon. I ended up finding 13 species in the quarry. Present were only 5 Canada Geese among about 150 Snow Geese plus 24 Ruddy Ducks, 18 Ring-necked Ducks, 8 Buffleheads, 4 male Redheads, 4 American Black Ducks, 2 Mallards, a Greater Scaup, 3 Common Mergansers, 23 American Coots, 5 Horned Grebes, and a Pied-billed Grebe.

Horned Grebe

Over at Green Pond, I found 3 Green-winged Teal and 2 Killdeer in the Farmersville Road retention pond.

Green-winged Teal

Killdeer

A Sharp-shinned Hawk flew over Green Pond while a Red-bellied Woodpecker was at its nest hole.

Red-bellied Woodpecker

I decided to stop and check out the Newburg Road retention pond before heading home, and I was glad that I did. As I scanned the pond, I discovered a female Scaup there. Surprisingly, closer study confirmed it to be a Greater Scaup instead of the more expected Lesser Scaup. Note the rounded head with its peak near the forehead, a large white patch around the base of the broad bill with a large dark area on its tip.

A female Greater Scaup.

Adding to the identification was the white wing stripe extending all the way out towards the wingtip that was seen when it flew across the pond.

A Greater Scaup showing its long, white wing stripe.

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