A small drake floats on a glassy marsh marked by bits of green vegetation poking through the surface on a cloudy and cold spring day. The duck is white with brown sides and a black and brown back, with an iridescent green head and a glowing orange eye. Its most noticeable feature is its very large, almost spatula-like black bill.

Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata), Howard Marsh Metropark, Curtice, Ohio, USA, March 2026. ©2026 #birds #nature #photography #naturephotography #howardmarsh #toledo #ohio #spring

From Allaboutbirds.org, The Lesser Yellowlegs is a dainty and alert "marshpiper" that occurs in shallow, weedy wetlands and flooded fields across North America during migration. It's smaller with a shorter, more needlelike bill than the Greater Yellowlegs, but otherwise looks very similar.

Happy Midweek friends, these Lesser Yellowlegs are here to greet you... #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #Naturephotography #HowardMarsh #LesserYellowlegs

Medium-sized shorebirds, Pectoral Sandpipers are one of the most recognizable shorebirds, with their heavily streaked breast and bright white belly. They nest high in the artic circle and overwinter in south America.

Happy Tuesday friends... slow but surely the migrants are entering the area. Found on Sunday some newly arrived and extremely hungry Pectoral Sandpipers. #birds #ohbirding #wildlife #naturephotography #HowardMarsh #PectoralSandpipers