The Hatch

[PorkChop]

Well, I finally spotted some ducklings this morning. First group was a hen Pintail with just two ducklings walking across the road. The ducklings were about the size of green wing teal.

Not too far from there I saw a few ducklings swimming. They were tiny. Didn’t see the hen, so not sure what they were.

Still no goslings.

[SpinnerMan]

till no goslings.

That's interesting because everywhere I have been I've seen a ton of goslings many now nearly fully grown. It definitely seems like a bumper crop.

I've seen a few ducklings, but I don't normally see a lot of them.

I also just got my wing survey results. Only interesting thing was that 9 out 12 Canada Geese I got were adults. I'm curious what the average is, but a quick search I couldn't find anything.

[Duck Engr]

till no goslings.

That's interesting because everywhere I have been I've seen a ton of goslings many now nearly fully grown. It definitely seems like a bumper crop.

I've seen a few ducklings, but I don't normally see a lot of them.

I also just got my wing survey results. Only interesting thing was that 9 out 12 Canada Geese I got were adults. I'm curious what the average is, but a quick search I couldn't find anything.

We’ve had a bumper crop on our little Alabama farm pond too. They are nearly grown as well.

Very strange you aren’t seeing many little ones PC. Think it was this time last year you were reporting little fur balls everywhere you looked.

[PorkChop]

Yep last year and most years before that we see lots of goslings and then they disappear this time of year when the parents are molting. I will say that there is a lot more water this year and the vegetation is a lot taller so maybe they are well hidden and I’m just not seeing them.

I remain optimistic. Only have a month and a half till early Honker season starts. Doves on September 1 and before you know it, we will be full swing waterfowling.

Finally got a thermal scope so I might be most excited about predator night hunting season opening up!

[PorkChop]

[Darren]

That's so cool, thanks so much for sharing something we rarely get to see.

Now you make yourself comfy and stand guard for ol gal!

[PorkChop]

No problem! I will definitely keep an eye on her. Missed an opportunity on a skunk the other day. Vegetation is very tall and it’s easy for them to get away. Plus, I did not have a gun with me, but I have killed a few with my gravel rake at work.

Also spotted today what I believe was a pintail with four young ones. Looks like they were hatched at least two weeks ago. Fairly good size. I got a video of them but it’s not very good. I will try again tomorrow as I’ll be able to sneak up on the little pothole better.

Lots of little killdeer running around the roads.

[PorkChop]

Saw these this morning. Finally coming out of the woodwork

IMG_1966.jpeg

IMG_1967.jpeg

[Darren]

That whole taking on a skunk with a rake thing sounds like it could get smelly quick, no?

[PorkChop]

That whole taking on a skunk with a rake thing sounds like it could get smelly quick, no?

Just have to make sure they are facing you, you’re up, wind, and you hit them good right on top of the head. I missed one time and that skunk was P O’d and chased me a bit. Skunks aren’t very fast compared to a raccoon, but if you stumble, or have a slow reaction you will be stinky. I think in the big scheme of things the skunks are pretty harmless, but they do a lot of damage on the eggs. I find them in my treaters a lot and I’m able to do my work. Never been sprayed in the Treater. Sometimes they’ll do a hiss or a kind of growl, but that’s the extent of it. I won’t kill them in the Treater as then it will stink in there for a very long time. I usually just leave the door open and when I come back the next day, they are gone.

[Duck Engr]

Awesome thanks for sharing!

[Ducaholic]

Cool Stuff! PC where was the nearest pothole in relation to that nest? That cover is awful thin for a successful nesting and brood survival. Thoughts?

[PorkChop]

Cool Stuff! PC where was the nearest pothole in relation to that nest? That cover is awful thin for a successful nesting and brood survival. Thoughts?

She has about 100 yards to get those ducklings to a good pothole with lots of cattails. I’m off for a few days as Sarah had surgery but when I get back on Saturday, I will take a picture from the tanks. I agree about the thin cover, but believe it or not, she’s very well hidden. The grass that you can see on the side is a good foot and a half if not taller. I was surprised that she didn’t have the nest in there. Maybe this might be her first year nesting I’m not sure but overall, I thought it was a poor choice to put a nest, especially compared to all the other nests I have found in the past.

[Ducaholic]

Cool Stuff! PC where was the nearest pothole in relation to that nest? That cover is awful thin for a successful nesting and brood survival. Thoughts?

She has about 100 yards to get those ducklings to a good pothole with lots of cattails. I’m off for a few days as Sarah had surgery but when I get back on Saturday, I will take a picture from the tanks. I agree about the thin cover, but believe it or not, she’s very well hidden. The grass that you can see on the side is a good foot and a half if not taller. I was surprised that she didn’t have the nest in there. Maybe this might be her first year nesting I’m not sure but overall, I thought it was a poor choice to put a nest, especially compared to all the other nests I have found in the past.

Fingers Crossed...Keep us updated...Thank You

[PorkChop]

The circle on the right is where she is on the nest and the one on the left is where she always flies to (if you zoom in you can see the cattails). Then you can see there is a bigger sheet water but not as much cover.

IMG_2008.jpeg

And to the left of that you can see a few more water options.

IMG_2009.jpeg

She was still on the nest this morning.

[PorkChop]

Also, we have 25 days and a wake up before our early goose season starts if they have it this year. Still have not spotted any Honkers, which is extremely unusual.

[PorkChop]

some shovelers

[DComeaux]

Love it! Those hens have a rough life.

[Ducaholic]

[PorkChop]

Well, I was off the last two days. Came back and did not see her sitting on the nest so I walked down there. This is what I found.

IMG_2034.jpeg

I am obviously no expert, but it looks like maybe six of them hatched and three didn’t? From what I’ve seen in the past when a predator gets them all the eggs are usually gone and spread around the area.

Thoughts???

[Duck Engr]

Hmmm from that photo looks like something crushed its way into the egg instead of the contents pecking its way out. Sure hope I’m wrong!

[PorkChop]

The three eggs were still there this morning, which has me still leaning on they hatched. I’ll give it a few days and then I will sneak through the sunflowers and see if I can find them on any of the little potholes that were close.

Had to go to Bismarck yesterday which is I guess is about 150 miles away. So we covered a lot of ground both ways and what a difference from when we went last week. It’s like somebody turned on the switch and the birds are coming out of hiding. Even spotted a bunch of different groups of Honkers and the last few days have spotted some flying. Not that I wasn’t excited before but when you start spotting good bunches of birds, you realize it’s time to get your butt in gear for the season. We have like 20 days before early Goose.

[Ducaholic]

Hope you right PC.

[PorkChop]

Still finding new ducklings here and there. I don’t think I have spotted any mallards yet. Teal, gadwall, shovelers and pintails is all.

Honkers are coming out of hiding and some are starting to fly and in 11 days the early season opens. Winter wheat is starting to be harvested as of yesterday or maybe the day before up here. I’m sure in the southern part of the state they started earlier. Hopefully peas will start coming off. This time of year I think the honkers are mostly feeding on bugs still or at least the young ones are. they love them Crickets!

So far pheasant and Partridge hatch is looking pretty darn strong!

Unfortunately all the upper 80 and 90° temperatures really dried up a lot of the potholes. Today the high was in the 70s and it was wonderful. I think we have a couple days forecasted with highs just in the 60s and I think on Thursday we’re forecasted to go down into the 40s. That will be so awesome!

[Rick]

...Today the high was in the 70s and it was wonderful. I think we have a couple days forecasted with highs just in the 60s and I think on Thursday we’re forecasted to go down into the 40s. That will be so awesome!

Still hard to imagine down here, so enjoy it for us, too.

[Duck Engr]

...Today the high was in the 70s and it was wonderful. I think we have a couple days forecasted with highs just in the 60s and I think on Thursday we’re forecasted to go down into the 40s. That will be so awesome!

Still hard to imagine down here, so enjoy it for us, too.

What he said.

But nice to have a report that things are at least starting to progress somewhere.

[PorkChop]

Well, we woke up to 45° this morning and it looks like every night till Sunday gets down into the 40s. Guessing that will get some blue wings and doves fired up to start making their way south. This time next week our early season Honker season will be open.

[Rick]

That beats snot out of waking up to another heat advisory down here.

[Darren]

That beats snot out of waking up to another heat advisory down here.

Every day lately for sure, with the trend only broken by a severe t-storm warning.

Upside? High pressure is parked and keeping storms away. It also keeps the winds out of the W-NW down at the camp so the marsh water levels stay low, which I'll take over HIGH this time of year.

[PorkChop]

I had the day off, so I decided to take a drive this morning. Very pleased with what I saw for big ducks! Most water was mostly covered with birds. Also found a field that I have permission for with well over 1000 mallards in it. Not big numbers for North Dakota but for this time of year that’s a pretty good feed. Season opens up in a few weeks and I can only expect that more and more birds will come out of hiding.

Had Reaper with me so I didn’t sneak in to get any video but will in the next few days.