Summer Influx of Birds

There were a lot of new faces on the Athabasca River today! I am not sure who this guy is, but he was having a lot of fun in the current.

This one is a Hooded Merganser with his hood down That is a sign of a contented Merganser.

This Common Goldeneye just flipped and caught a minnow head down!

Here are two more Goldeneyes

A Drake Mallard up against an ice bank

A Hen Mallard at rest

Then we have an American Wigeon.

I was wondering what these Canada Geese were picking at. It turns out the ice is covered with very small flying insects.

It Is Done!

After about 3 months of work, I declare it done! It started as a rough carved block of Tupelo Gum.

After the feathers were carved in, they were detailed with a wood burning tool

The body started to look not bad after a month or so of burning

Here it is carved, burnt and sealed

The final product, an American Wigeon!