20170225 (11)_Black_Duck
For the past nine years an American Black Duck has been an elusive resident of the area around the village of Strontian near the head of Loch Sunart. This winter it has been much more reliable than in recent years and after several postponements for weather and illness I finally connected with it. To my delight I found on arrival that it was the closest bird - hurrah! The wing-stretch in this picture shows off the black-bordered purplish speculum on the wing, lacking the white flash of a Mallard. The sooty body plumage accounts for its name.
20170225 (11)_Black_Duck
For the past nine years an American Black Duck has been an elusive resident of the area around the village of Strontian near the head of Loch Sunart. This winter it has been much more reliable than in recent years and after several postponements for weather and illness I finally connected with it. To my delight I found on arrival that it was the closest bird - hurrah! The wing-stretch in this picture shows off the black-bordered purplish speculum on the wing, lacking the white flash of a Mallard. The sooty body plumage accounts for its name.