Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge is a wildlife preserve operated by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, encompassing part of the Montezuma Swamp at the north end of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes district of New York State. The 10,004-acre preserve is composed of swamps, pools and channels and is a stopping point for migratory birds.
This was our second visit to it, the last being in August, 2019. There was a vast difference in birds present between the two visits given the different times of year. This visit there were mainly ducks of various types, but a few shorebirds, great blue herons and 3 or 4 bald eagles.
Just outside the Visitor's Centre a number of goldfinches were enjoying seeds from an unidentified flower.
Greater* yellowlegs were checking the marsh for snacks.
(*Might have been lesser yellowlegs as I can't tell the difference.)
A ring-billed gull joined the yellowlegs in the foggy sky.
There were pintail, green-winged teals, American wigeon and gadwall ducks mixed in with mallards and the occasional small flock of coots.
male pintail duck
female pintail duck
green-winged teal ducks
American wigeon and a gadwall leading the way
At one point a large mixed flock of ducks took off, which led to a very interesting story....
A bald eagle was sitting in a tree watching the goings on...
It saw the ducks go up and it flew into action and caught a duck in mid-air, and brought it back to a nearby tree for lunch.
There were a few non bird things to check out.
A sweet gum tree was in full fall colour, a mustard plant was in bloom in the nice temperatures (usually blooms in late spring and the milkweed pods were covered with fog dew.
