Molting season

[QuietOne]

And every aquatic fowl for miles is obviously doing it right here.

[Marko]

very interesting shot and processing

[Mad Aussie]

Interesting find. Maybe the foxes are eating by the water?

[QuietOne]

Thank you, Marko and MA. It was gone the next day.

MA, no, though there are foxes in the general area. It's a combination of the water rising in the pond because the river is rising, the older goose and duck broods getting their adult feathers and losing the baby down and feathers, and the seasonal ducks molting. The wood ducks I'm seeing have lost their breeding plumage. The mallards are mostly done molting, but a few got a late start.

The wind has been steady but not strong the last several days, so the detritus is piling up against the shore. This spot happens to capture stuff like that well.

The color is close, but not perfect. It was in the shade and the feathers tended to be a bit cool in color to begin with. The water towards the top of the picture was in the sun. The reflections of the sky are probably just a little cool.