Field Guides
Triangle birding — Winter ducks on the city lakes
A December-to-February circuit of Raleigh's lakes for Ring-necked Ducks, Hooded Mergansers and Buffleheads, with light notes.
Why the lakes
Diving ducks that breed far to the north winter on the reservoirs and city lakes here. Ring-necked Ducks are the most common, often in rafts of fifty or more, with Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads and Lesser Scaup mixed in from December into February.
The circuit
Lake Johnson at first light, then Lake Wheeler, then the millpond at Historic Yates Mill County Park for Wood Ducks. The whole loop is under 20 miles from Five Points. Lake Johnson is busy with runners by eight, so do it first.
What to look for
Hooded Mergansers favor the quieter coves. Pied-billed Grebes stay all winter. Ruddy Ducks and Lesser Scaup show up after a cold snap up north. A Canvasback or Common Goldeneye turns up some winters, usually for a few days.
The P1100 on water
This is what the Coolpix P1100 is for. Rest it on a beanbag on the railing, keep the zoom at or below about 2000mm equivalent, and shoot in bright light at base ISO. The small sensor does not like shade or dusk; the ducks are usually far out enough that nothing else in the bag reaches them.