This morning, I visited Parsons Pond for the first time since all the recent
rains. Its extent comes close to matching other previous highs and water is
still flowing into it from numerous upwellings all along its northern end.
There were around 75 Killdeer near the road and a handful of speck size ducks
near the far shore. I walked down to where I could see the part of the pond
obscured by a hill from the parking spot. By then some of the speck size ducks
departed and resolved into Mallards as they flew over. I was about 50% closer
to the remaining ducks but still around .2 mile away. As best I could tell,
going by their red eyes, they were Ring-necked Ducks, 2 females and a male.
Knowing they they wouldn’t allow any closer approach if I took the trouble to
circle the pond, I was about to leave. Then I spotted some white birds on the
far shore. With the scope I could see that they were either Snow or Ross’s
Geese. Couldn’t tell which. The possibility of nailing these geese seemed
circle worthy and turned out to be so. They were so tame, they never went far
from the shore line as I walked right by them, continuing to feed as if my
presence was unimportant. At close range, I could see and photograph them well
enough to show the detail shape and bluish color at the base of their beaks. My
nearest photo is at a range of around 100 feet. Photos with ebird report -
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53140871 ;
<https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S53140871>
Frank Lyne
frank@xxxxxxxxxxx - near Dot in Logan County, KY
