Got up this morning and limped out to the back yard and got on the 4 wheeler and rode to my back technical pond. The water has dropped out on one end and has gotten fairly shallow. As I popped out of the woods I flushed a small flock of Blue Winged Teal off of it. Really surprised me, they are here earlier than ever, usually it is mid to late Ausgust before they start showing up around here.

I have a small pond back in about 3 acres of woods that is on its 4th generation of Wood Ducks. The young ones have been swimming and puddleing around for a while. The Drake and Hen fly up to the front pond morning and evening, won't be long before the baby's start followng them more often.

Dove season is the end of August, with an early teal season as well. Might have to go on an early season teal hunt this year, never been one to hit the early season always had to much going on. Just might have to give it a shot this year.

If I am seeing Blue Winged Teal this early in the South, what are you guys up in Yankee land seeing (Yankee Land is anywhere North of Memphis Tn.).

Marty

Marty

Marty, there are usually a few bluewings that stay way down here all Summer, and their families probably account for particularly early sightings in our area. Couldn't say if such was the case with your birds, just that not all teal do their breeding "up North".

Our long drought has finally been broken by serious rains the past week or so, and we've lots of sheet water, from which I flushed what I initially thought a small flight of teal the other morning. Turned out to be a family of woodies going out low, but still gave my heart rate a little bump.

Shouldn't be but a couple or three more weeks, though, before migrants start showing here and begin one of my favorite times of year. Every bunch we encounter in our rounds afield is, as you've apparemtly found, like opening a long anticipated gift. And I don't know how those of you who don't hunt the September season can stand it. By then the pressure to be waterfowling has built to where that taste of teal is all that gets me through to November's big season.

But just now I'm tickled to be afield amid the long awaited color and sweet smell of ripened rice. Makes me wonder how the heck I got so old so fast with the clock ticking so slowly most of the year...

Rick
I first thought they were a family of Woodies that live in a secluded pond on my property.

Then they did the famous Teal shuffle, you know what I'm talking about moving like a streak of chained lighting shifting in the group and buzzing low over the water. Did my heart good to see them.

They probable moved over from Arkabutla lake. It is not far from here and has tons of sheet water this time of year, mudflats etc. just what Teal love. Your probable right they were locals but it still made my heart thump.

Marty