Category: Duck

Lovely Avian Ladies

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Duck, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, GA, Georgia, nature, Nature Photography, North Carolina, Photography, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Female Northern Cardinal perched on a small, gray, tree branch protruding from another branch. The background is a medium gray. The bird has predominantly golden-brown body with a red crest. The wings are a medium-dark gray with red stripes. There is a black patch above the beak, around the eye and on its neck. The eye is black. The beak is red. Its legs are gray with a faint reddish cast.
Female Northern Cardinal;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; DEC 2022

I was taught that male birds were bright and beautiful while female birds were dull and drab. They were made that way so that the males could distract predators from the nest. I wasn’t taught so well. In some birds, the male and female look alike. In others, even though the female is drabber, she is absolutely beautiful in her own right. Here are a few examples.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution!

A female Eastern Towhee perched on a tree branch against a background of green leaves and brown twigs. The bird has a gray head, back and tail, a white belly and orange between the wings and belly The eye and beak are black.
Female Eastern Towhee;
Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary. Asheville. North Carolina, USA
Female Eastern Bluebird perched on a medium gray tree branch. The background is dark with a few medium gray twigs interspersed. The bird has a gray head and neck. The primary feathers on its wings and tail feathers are blue. Its other feathers are black with white wing bars. Its neck and breast are orange, and its underparts are white. Its eye, beak and legs are black.
Female Eastern Bluebird;
Roswell, Georgia, USA; DEC 2021
Female Common Merganser, a species of duck, perched on what appears to be a section of a fallen tree that appears black. The background is blue and gray water with somewhat out of focus branches protruding above the surface and behind the bird’s head. The bird has a yellowish-white breast, white neck and white underparts. It has a gray upper body and tail feathers. The wings are gray with a black and white patch. Its head is a dark reddish-brown with a white patch behind the lower side of the bill. It has a black eye and a red bill. Its legs and feet are orange.
Female Common Merganser;
Arboretum Waterfront Park, Seattle, Washington, USA; JAN 2023

Female Hooded Merganser, a species of duck floating on the water. The background and foreground is water in stripes of white, gray, blue and gold. The bird has a gray body and head. It has a brown crest, or hod, atop its head. The wings are dark gray with a small white patch. Its eye is a dull golden color. Its beak is black and is surrounded by a small white patch.
Female Hooded Merganser;
Arboretum Waterfront Park, Seattle, Washington, USA; JAN 2023

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

If anyone would like a copy of almost any picture in my library, for educational or research use, please contact me and I will happily share a digital copy with you.

 

Not Just A Duck

by Earthwatcher, posted in American River Parkway, Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, California, Duck, Earthwatcher, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Fujifilm Cameras, nature, Nature Photography, Sacramento, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Four images of various specise of ducks.
Female Mallard Duck
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; SEP 2019

In a blog I follow and enjoy, Peace of Life Today, the author shared the post “Just A Duck” which contained some beautiful photos of a female Mallard. Until a few years ago, that is what they were to me. I could identify a white domestic duck and a male Mallard. I have heard people talk about a variety of ducks, but they were just some abstract concept. Then I met some new friends who were wildlife photographers. They taught me that we live in the Pacific Flyway, a migration route and wintering ground for many species of waterfowl. They, along with other birding friends, taught me about Mergansers, Golden Eye’s, Teals, and many more. The diversity and beauty of these creatures is astounding. For me, there is no such thing as just a duck anymore and I am better for it.

Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Wood Duck Inspecting Possible Nest
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; MAR 2019
Common Merganser
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; JUL 2020 #Photography
Female and 2 Male Barrows Goldeneyes
Lake Natomas, American River Parkway, Gold River, CA; NOV 2019

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Errata: In my original post, I misidentified the Goldeneyes. They are Barrows Goldeneyes, not Common Goldeneyes.

Some Birds from Florida

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Duck, Earthwatcher, Florida, Fujifilm Cameras, nature, Nature Photography, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)
Harns Marsh, Fort Meyers, FL; FEB 2020

I am sharing a few bird pictures that I haven’t posted from our Florida trip in February.

Please click on caption to see images at higher resolution.

Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel Island, FL; FEB 2020
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel Island, FL; FEB 2020
Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula)
Port Saint Lucie, FL; FEB 2020
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)
Bowman’s Beach, Sanibel Island, FL; FEB 2020
Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla)
Fishing Pier, Sanibel Island, FL; FEB 2020

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Cute Chicks – Part 1

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Duck, Earthwatcher, Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Fujifilm Cameras, nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Uncategorized, Waterfowl, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) with Goslings
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; MAY 2020

I am presenting the first of 2 parts entitled Cute Chicks. This part will present some local waterfowl.

One of the images is entitled Huddled Sord of Baby Mallards. I learned that a group of Mallards in flight is called a flock or sometimes a flight. Mallards on the ground are called a SORD. If the name sounds weird, it is because it appears to have no other uses.

Female Mallard Duck (Anas platyrhynchos) with Ducklings
Mississippi Bar, American River Parkway, Orangevale, CA; MAY 2020
Mute Swans (Cygnus Olor) with Young
Mather Lake Regional Park, Sacramento, CA; JUN 2020
Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) with Ducklings
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; MAY 2020
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) with Young
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; MAY 2020
Huddled Sord of Baby Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)
Sailor Bar, American River Parkway, Fair Oaks, CA; MAY 2020
Juvenile Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)
Mather Lake Regional Park, Sacramento, CA; JUN 2020

Please visit my website, www.earthwatcher.us to see my collection of landscapes and wildlife.

These and other images are available to purchase by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

Waterfowl and Shorebirds

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, bird watching, birding, Birds, Duck, Earthwatcher, Fujifilm Cameras, Nature Photography, Uncategorized, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography
Canada Geeese (Branta canadensis) on a Beaver Lodge
Landing, Grand Teton National Park, WY; MAY 2019

Here are a few more birds, mostly from this year’s collection, for you to enjoy.

Note: Please click on caption to see image at higher resolution.

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Point Lobos State Park, Monteray, CA; May 2016
Great White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus)
Missouri River Headwaters State Park, Three Forks, MT; MAY 2019
American Coot (Fulica americana)
Wm Pond Park, Sacramento, CA; Mar 2019
Juvenile Canada Goose (Branta canadensis);
Mather Park, Sacramento, CA; JUN 2019
Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) and Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos)
Effie Yeaw Nature Center, Sacramento, CA; JUN 2019

These and other images are available to purchase on my website: www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry.klink@earthwatcher.us.

More Common Views from Sacramento and Colusa National Wildlife Refuge

by Earthwatcher, posted in Bird Photography, Birds, Colusa National Wildlife Reserve, Duck, Fujifilm Cameras, Photography, Sacramento National Wildlife Reserve, Wildlife

Snow Geese
Snow Geese, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, JAN 2018

A few days ago, I shared some images of the less common sightings at these 2 major refuges on the Pacific Flyway. But, the usual suspects were there also. Today, I will share a few images from this set.

Regards,

Larry

Note: Please click on caption to see image in larger size.

Western Pond Turtle
Western Pond Turtle, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge; JAN 2018

Western Meadowlark
Western Meadowlark, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge; JAN 2018

Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge; JAN 2018 

Whte Fronted Goose
White Fronted Geese, Colusa National Wildlife Refuge; JAN 2018

American Wigeon
American Wigeon, Colusa National Wildlife Refuge; JAN 2018

An American Coot in High Key
American Coot in High Key, Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge; JAN 2018

Killdeer
Killdeer, Colusa National Wildlife Refuge; JAN 2018

 

Note: These and other images are available to purchase on my website, www.earthwatcher.us or by contacting larry@earthwatcher.us.

Pintail Duck

by Earthwatcher, posted in art, art for sale, Cosumnes RIver Preserve, Galt, CA, Duck, Photography, photography for sale, Waterfowl

Pintail Duck
Pintail Duck, Cosumnes River Preserve, Sacramento, CA DEC 2015

We are very lucky to be near the delta that flows into San Francisco Bay because it attracts many beautiful migrating birds in the winter. One of the birds that makes California’s Pacific Flyway their home is the Pintail Duck. I shot this image of a beautiful pintail Sunday morning, DEC 27, 2015.