Duck behavior early to mid morning

[Stein]

Wow, had a great day today.  Wave after wave coming from all directions.

I kicked about 50 ducks off the pond when I showed up and they were coming in until I left at 9:30.  From daylight to the slowdown at 7:30 or 8, they seemed like they were on a gps course and really didn't turn for my calling or any of the guys around me.  Then, at 9, the second attack started, but they seemed MUCH more interested in the pond and my spread.  I had a few flare right over me while I was on a retrieve, and a few more as I was picking up the decoys.  If my gun hadn't picked up a weed and jammed, I could have done even more damage.

Is this normal behavior?  Seems like it would be better to just show up at 7:30 instead of o:dark if you were guaranteed the spot.

I also had my first chance to see a flock of 50+ swan take off from a pond - man, they make a racket getting airborne.

[lokidog]

I've always found the 9-9:30 time period to be quite active.  I still like to get my decoys out in the dark though, and scaring the birds off in the dark may have less of an impact on them than if you busted them during daylight.

[Mfowl]

If I were guaranteed my spot I would show up at light or just after and let my dog loft the birds while I stayed out of sight. Then once clear I would sneak in and deploy my spread and get set up quickly. Often they will try to return if they were content there. I don't like to loft them in the dark. Sometimes it works out but too often they don't return at all. As for later flight times, I never pick up before the 11:00 flight, unless limited.

[h2ofowlr]

I think Pauls Pond in Burbank they don't start hunting it until 8:00am.  Give birds time to load and ounces walked out they trickle back in.