Wheeler Block Press

Winter 2025–26

Four Common Goldeneye vanguards arrive.
Common Goldeneye males arrive on the Merrimack River.
Four Common Goldeneye males arrive at the Merrimack River in Lowell. More will soon follow.
A second wave of Common Goldeneye arrive.
Common Goldeneyes rafting on the Merrimack River.
The diving duck total increases to 19—all Common Goldeneyes.
Cold snap brings even more Common Goldeneyes to the Merrimack River in Lowell.
Common Goldeneye numbers continue to grow.
There are now 57 Common Goldeneyes on the river between the bridges.
About 50 Canada Geese stop for a rest.
About 50 Canada Geese rest during migration.
A flock of Canada Geese traveling 'from whence to wherever' use the Merrimack River as an overnight rest stop.
The Buffleheads arrive.
Two dozen Buffleheads arrive on the Merrimack River in Lowell.
Two dozen Buffleheads arrive and gather in the Riverbend.
Hooded Mergansers arrive and Mute Swans join the Mallards during the duck jamboree.
A Hooded Merganser male lingers among some Canada Geese.
Two Hooded Merganser males survey the area by the Boott Mills complex.
8 Mute Swans are situated in various parts of the Merrimack River and in the Riverbend.
Another pair of Mute Swans arrive.
Mute Swan copies the diving antics of the Mallards.
Twenty Mallards are diving near the Mute Swan pair. So the swans begin to emulate their behavior. Of course, the Mallards are copying the diving ducks, also nearby.
Mute Swan under the Aiken Street bridge after a bath.
After joining the Mallards in a bathing ritual, the Mute Swan pair cross under the Aiken Street bridge for a quick visit to the Riverbend area.
The Common Goldeneyes break up into smaller groups. The Mallards have a jamboree.
The Common Goldeneyes form smaller groups adjacent to the Tsongas Center in Lowell.
The Common Goldeneyes begin to split up into smaller groups.
Mallards at play
Mallards play leapfrog by riding the riffles (backwards) downstream then flying upstream for another go.
Mallard females in flight
Mallard females fly exhibit their synchronized flying technique.
Common Mergansers arrive, Hooded Merganser foraging among the geese, and the Mallard jamboree continues.
Common Merganser male surveys the Merrimack River.
A Common Merganser male surveys the Merrimack River.
Common Merganser male prepares to lift off.
A Common Merganser male taxis the runway.
A Common Merganser female flaps her wings.
A Common Merganser female dries her wings.
Hooded Merganser among Canada Geese
A Hooded Merganser male lingers among the geese.
Mallards dabbling as a group
Bottoms up! A group of Mallards perform a synchronized dabble in the rather low Merrimack River.
Red-tailed Hawk sighting and a trio of Hooded Mergansers
A Red-tailed Hawk crosses the Merrimack River.
A Red-tailed Hawk flies over the Merrimack River down by the Bridge Street bridge.
Hooded Mergansers: 2 males and 1 female
The Hooded Mergansers continue patrolling along the Boott Mills area of the river (female at lower right).
Four goldeneyes flying, two Hooded Mergansers swimming, and a Bald Eagle in a red maple tree ...
Common Goldeneyes take flight.
Common Goldeneyes take flight after a snow.
Common Goldeneye female
A Common Goldeneye female flies at nine wing beats per second.
Hooded Merganser males on the Merrimack River in Lowell
Hooded Merganser males
Young Bald Eagle in a red maple tree
Young Bald Eagle in a red maple tree with squirrels
December 16, 2025
Mute Swan crosses the Riverbend.
Mute Swan crosses the Riverbend.
A Mute Swan crosses the Riverbend.
Red-tail Hawk juvenile on the hunt.
A Red-tailed Hawk juvenile pursues a squirrel amidst the river birches.
A Red-tailed Hawk juvenile pursues a wily squirrel.
A Red-tailed Hawk juvenile perched amidst the river birch trees.
Red-tailed Hawk juvenile waits patiently for another chance to seize its prey.
Red-tailed Hawk juvenile waits for the evasive squirrel to show itself.