View allAll Photos Tagged Dabble
The American Wigeon, also American Widgeon or Baldpate, (Anas americana) is a species of dabbling duck found in North America. This species is classified with the other wigeons in the dabbling duck genus Anas, which may be split, in which case wigeons could go into their old genus Mareca again. It is the New World counterpart of the Eurasian Wigeon.
The American Wigeon is a medium-sized bird; it is larger than a teal, but smaller than a pintail. In silhouette, the wigeon can be distinguished from other dabblers by its round head, short neck, and small bill. It is 42–59 cm (17–23 in) long, with a 76–91 cm (30–36 in) wingspan and a weight of 512–1,330 g (1.13–2.9 lb). This wigeon has two adult molts per year and a juvenile molt in the first year, as well.
The breeding male (drake) is a striking bird with a mask of green feathers around its eyes and a cream colored cap running from the crown of its head to its bill. This white patch gives the wigeon its other common name, baldpate (pate is another word for head). Their belly is also white. In flight, drakes can be identified by the large white shoulder patch on each wing. These white patches flash as the birds bank and turn. In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female.
The hens are much less conspicuous, having primarily gray and brown plumage. Both sexes have a pale blue bill with a black tip, a white belly, and gray legs and feet. The wing patch behind the speculum is gray. They can be distinguished from most ducks, apart from Eurasian Wigeon, by shape. However, that species has a darker head and all grey underwing. The head and neck coloring of the female is different as opposed to the Eurasian Wigeon. It nests on the ground, near water and under cover. It lays 6–12 creamy white eggs. Flocks will often contain American Coots.
The American Wigeon is a noisy species, and in the field can often be identified by their distinctive calls. Drakes produce a three note whistle, while hens emit hoarse grunts and quacks. The male whistle makes a whoee-whoe-whoe, whereas the female has a low growl qua-ack.
American wigeon. California.
During the late 80's the CSX dabbled with running their own version of the NS' RoadRailer trains. According to the lettering on the side of the first trailer they called it XpressRailer. I'm not sure where the train originated out of, Toledo or Detroit (?), and I think headed down to Atlanta, on a schedule that put it through Deshler in the early morning hours.
Towards the waning days of this experiment the CSX put their executive F-units on the train. I headed over to Deshler this particular morning in hopes of catching the train. The good news was that I got there just in time to catch the train, but the bad news was it only had the one GP40-2 for power instead of the F-units. It is seen here going across the diamond with the CSX's main between Chicago and Willard. A small portion on the interlocking tower is visible behind the locomotive.
With over 10 million Mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) residing in North America alone, the Mallards are one of the best-known and most recognizable ducks. the mallard is a dabbling duck found throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas around the world. The most abundant and wide-ranging duck on earth. The mallard usually inhabits the freshwaters of North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia. Mallards usually feed on plants, such as grass seeds, leaves, stems and aquatic plants, and vegetation like grains, rice, oats and corn. However, they are also seen feeding on insects, mollusks, small fish, tadpoles, freshwater snails, fish eggs, frogs and crustaceans. This Mallard drake was photographed as he landed at White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas.
Click on the link below to explore your options. Select from fine art prints, canvas, acrylic or metal prints for your home or office. Make sure you subscribe so you don’t miss out on updates, sales, and new blog posts.
The last day of April 2025 and another trip to WWT Slimbridge in Gloucestershire.
There was a group of six Gadwall flying around over the outer fields and Tack Piece Lagoon at Slimbridge. I Spent time catching individual Ducks.
The Gadwall is a very grey-coloured dabbling duck, a little smaller than the Mallard, and with an obvious black rear end. It shows a white wing patch in flight. When seen close up the grey/brown colour is made up of exquisitely fine barring and speckling.
Teals are small dabbling ducks. Males have chestnut coloured heads with broad green eye-patches, a spotted chest, grey lower sides and a black edged yellow tail. Females are mottled brown. Both show bright green wing patches (speculum) in flight. They are thinly distributed as a breeding species with a preference for northern moors and mires. In winter, birds gather in low-lying wetland in the south and west of the UK. Of these, many are continental birds from around the Baltic and Siberia. At this time, the UK is home to a significant percentage of the north-west European wintering population making it an Amber List species.
Kicking off the weekend with a little Mallard cuteness. In 2015, during the hot summer months of July and August I traveled up to Lansing, NY a few times looking for shorebird activity. It was hot so I didn't mind standing in water to my waist to get closer to the small island where I found them. While there I often saw duck families swim through the area, Mallards, Mergansers and even Wood Ducks. At this young age, this Mallard duckling is already dabbling. Young ducks are born intuitively knowing how to feed themselves and begin foraging as soon as they leave the nest. The mother is needed only for brooding and protection. July 25, 2016
…… Kenneth Grahame.
Sunny walk at Wilstone Reservoir and Drayton Beauchamp.
4 Teal dabbling. They must have seen me lift the camera.
Class 60 60021 "Penyghent" - 6L92 1108 Chaddesden Sidings to King's Lynn T.C. near Pymoor - 10/01/2025.
A bumper day on this occasion! I started the day with an eight mile morning walk from Downham Market to Stow Bridge & back by the River Great Ouse. A well earned pub lunch followed & then an afternoon pop over to the Hundred Foot Washes near Pymoor, for my first dabble in railway photography this year. This train was the main reason I came over here. However, I did not expect this locomotive to be at the front of the train when it came into view!
I saw no fewer than five freight trains in less than an hour at this wonderful spot. I'm not used to that amount of activity these days!
kirstentacular.blogspot.com/2015/11/bodycon-wrap-dress.html Marketplace- marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Dabble-Dooya-Bodycon-Wrap-Dr... Catwa, Dabble Dooya, Everglow, Exile, Glamistry, Maxi Gossamer, SLink
Naples Botanical Gardens
Southwest Florida
USA
The blue-winged teal (Spatula discors) is a species of bird in the duck, goose, and swan family Anatidae. One of the smaller members of the dabbling duck group, it occurs in North America, where it breeds from southern Alaska to Nova Scotia, and south to northern Texas. It winters along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and south into the Caribbean islands and Central America.
The range is all of North America except western and northern Alaska, northern Yukon Territory, northern Northwest Territories and the northeastern area of Canada. Blue-winged teal are rare in the desert southwest, and the west coast. The breeding habitat of the blue-winged teal is marshes and ponds.
Blue-winged teal inhabit shoreline more often than open water and prefer calm water or sluggish currents to fast water. They inhabit inland marshes, lakes, ponds, pools, and shallow streams with dense emergent vegetation. In coastal areas, breeding occurs in salt-marsh meadows with adjoining ponds or creeks. Blue-winged teal use rocks protruding above water, muskrat houses, trunks or limbs of fallen trees, bare stretches of shoreline, or mud flats for resting sites.
He just came up from dabbling and had water dripping from his bill & droplets on his head. The closer it gets to breeding season, the longer his tail gets.
Male Northern Pintail Duck (Anas acuta)
White Rock Lake, Dallas
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Lets dabble, a Shelduck feeding in the margins....
Shelduck
One of our largest ducks, the shelduck is a handsome creature with a dark green head, red bill and chestnut-brown band across its white body. Look out for it around most of our coastline, particularly in winter.
Scientific name
Tadorna tadorna
Did you know?
The shelduck nests underground in old rabbit burrows, in tree holes or in haystacks. During the 19th century, it was persecuted for this habit in certain areas as it competed with rabbits which were food for many people.
Same location as the Wood Duck, just a different day. No ticks this time either! A little fuller in the frame then I would like because I had to level the shot out and this guy came in really close when I had my extender on. Swinging my lens slightly ended up flushing him.
© Joshua Clark, All Rights Reserved.
This image is the property of the photographer and cannot be used, printed, downloaded, or reproduced in any way for either personal or commercial use without prior written consent of the photographer.
2025 Photograph, Male and Female Northern Pintails Dabbling (Anas acuta, Duck Family, Anatidae), Huntley Meadows, Alexandria, Virginia, © 2025.
Shorebirds of Ireland, Freshwater Birds of Ireland and The Birds of Ireland: A Field Guide 2nd Edition with Jim Wilson.
www.markcarmodyphotography.com
The green-winged teal (Anas carolinensis) or American teal is a common and widespread duck that breeds in the northern areas of North America except on the Aleutian Islands. It was considered conspecific with the Eurasian teal (A. crecca) for some time, but the two have since been split into separate species. This is once again under debate and the two species may be joined togetehr again.
This dabbling duck is strongly migratory and winters far south of its breeding range. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks. In flight, the fast, twisting flocks resemble waders. (wikipedia)
Very similar to Common Teal and care is needed to separate the two species. Adult male Green-winged Teal can be identified by the white vertical stripe on the flank, a feature never shown by Common Teal. Adult male Green-winged Teal also lack the obvious horizontal white stripe, while the yellow markings on the head are much reduced. Adult females and juveniles are indistinguishable from Common Teal. (BirdWatch Ireland)
There are several records a year in Ireland. This male, flanked either side by his distant Eurasian Teal cousins, was found in Broadmeadows in the Swords Estuary, Co. Dublin.
Pair of Grey Teal dabbling in a pond in the Pauatahanui Wildlife Reserve. As well as being found in Aotearoa, they occur in large numbers in Australia and many of the small, Pacific islands.
I posted a drake and a hen
Photographed at John E, Poole
Boardwalk, St.Albert, Alberta
_IMG_7132_17-05-16
The mallard or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck that breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Eurasia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand, Australia, Peru, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, the Falkland Islands, and South Africa.
The male birds (drakes) have a glossy green head and are grey on their wings and belly, while the females (hens or ducks) have mainly brown-speckled plumage. Both sexes have an area of white-bordered black or iridescent blue feathers called a speculum on their wings; males especially tend to have blue speculum feathers.
The mallard is 50–65 cm (20–26 in) long, of which the body makes up around two-thirds the length. The wingspan is 81–98 cm (32–39 in) and the bill is 4.4 to 6.1 cm (1.7 to 2.4 in) long. It is often slightly heavier than most other dabbling ducks, weighing 0.7–1.6 kg (1.5–3.5 lb). Mallards live in wetlands, eat water plants and small animals, and are social animals preferring to congregate in groups or flocks of varying sizes. This species is the main ancestor of most breeds of domestic ducks.
This image was taken at the Low Barnes Wildlife Reserve in the North East of England
Another trip to Slimbridge in early April. A lot of the over Wintering birds had left and the outer fields and Tack Piece Lagoon were very quiet.
Weather was a bit duller than expected with just short periods of sun.
A Wigeon on the far side of the Tack Piece Lagoon.
The Eurasian Wigeon, also known as Widgeon, is a dabbling duck.
The Eurasian Wigeon is a close relative to the American Wigeon.
The Wigeon often gather with Coots and divers on the water and are known to feed off vegetation brought to the surface whilst the divers are feeding.
Explored 08-05-2024
The striking green crescent on the male's head is readily seen in direct sunlight. These dabbling ducks are seasonally common in our shallow ponds and streams that border the San Francisco Bay.
The Blue-winged Teal is a small member of the "Dabbling Duck" family and is quite common and widespread across North America. It is a migrant that winters pretty much south of the U.S. and migrates north in the spring.
During their breeding season they prefer a habitat of shallow ponds or marshes where they will construct a bowl-shaped nest lined with grasses near the waters edge and the female will lay a clutch of 6 - 14 eggs and incubate them for 23 - 27 days.
Being a dabbling duck they glean sedge and grass seeds, pondweeds, duckweed and aquatic invertebrates from the waters surface. They like areas of short but dense emerged vegetation for its steady supply of seeds.
This species is renowned for their precision flying and aviation skills. They can be identified in flight by their skill at flying in small groups and executing sharp twists and turns together.
This female is the best attempt yet for me to capture an image of this species which shows the blue wing and green speculum both.
This is a dabbling duck which breeds in tropical and eastern Asia. This duck is around the same size as a mallard and has a scaly patterned body with a green speculum bordered by white. At rest the white stripe stands out and the long neck and the bill with yellow tip and orange red spots at the base are distinctive in the nominate subspecies. It is a bird of freshwater lakes and marshes in fairly open country and feeds by dabbling for plant food mainly in the evening or at night. The breeding season varies with rainfall and water condition but is July to September in northern India and November to December in southern India.
The Shelduck was swimming close to shore. It had been dabbling underwater for food. Head & neck were covered with tiny water droplets. I'm loving being able to enjoy its unique beauty up close.
Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea)
My photos can also be found at kapturedbykala.com
Just dabbling around with Corel Painter 11. This is, technically, a digital painting and not a photo painting [i.e., painted digitally on a blank 'canvas', not from a photo].
The red shoveler (Spatula platalea) is a species of dabbling duck native to southern South America.
Description
The species has a spatula-shaped bill, a green speculum, and light blue upper wing converts. Male shovelers vary in color from red to paler shades of red (and pink), while the females tend to have large, dark bills. Adults reach a size of about 45–56 centimetres (18–22 in), weigh about 523–608 grams (1.153–1.340 lb),[2] and have a wingspan of about 66–73 centimetres (26–29 in).
Distribution and habitat
The red shoveler breeds in the southern half of South America. It ranges from Tierra del Fuego northwards to Chile and most parts of Argentina, as well as to the Falkland Islands; there are small, isolated breeding populations in the southern regions of Peru, Bolivia, and Paraguay. They can also be found in the extreme southern regions of Brazil and Uruguay, in isolated coastal populations and also further inland. It inhabits shallow lakes and pools with dense reed beds, intertidal mangrove swamps and marshes. They can also be found in brackish waters, such as coastal lagoons, deltas and estuaries.
Ecology
Red shovelers have a diet that includes herbs, grasses, pond weeds, widgeon grass, algae, and eelgrass. They also feed on small invertebrates. The bill is equipped with a lamellate filtering mechanism that allows the extraction of small items of food from the water. Pairs form in the wintering grounds, after often noisy courtship. Once a clutch of 7–8 eggs is laid, incubation lasts about 25–26 days, followed by 40–45 days of fledging. Red shovelers are partially migratory, with the southernmost birds migrating north during the winter season.
Conservation
The red shoveler is a relatively common and widespread species, and is not currently considered at risk. However, it may suffer to an extent from the degradation of its wetland habitats. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List due to its extremely large range and apparently overall stable population. Unfortunately, the wetland habitats used for nesting by this species are under threat by problems such as eutrophication due to agriculture runoff, which causes a loss in aquatic plants, making it difficult for the ducks to find food reliably much less build nests out of said aquatic/herbaceous plants along with grazing cattle trampling down nests and vegetation needed to hide the nests to begin with. This means that despite their species being considered under the category of Least Concern, actual steps need to be taken towards the conservation of this species by both regular farmers and the wetland areas dedicated to conservation where they are supposedly protected from things like tourism, fishing, and hunting, as we don't know their true numbers in the wild because this species is so spread out.
Near The Gulf Of Mexico
Naples, Florida
USA
The Muscovy duck (Cairina moschata) is a large duck native to Mexico, Central, and South America. Small wild and feral breeding populations have established themselves in the United States, particularly in Florida, Louisiana, and the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas as well as in many other parts of North America, including southern Canada. Feral Muscovy ducks are found in New Zealand, Australia, and in parts of Europe.
They are large ducks, with the males about 76 cm (30 in) long, and weighing up to 7 kg (15 lb). Females are considerably smaller, and only grow to 3 kg (6.6 lb), roughly half the males' size. The bird is predominantly black and white, with the back feathers being iridescent and glossy in males, while the females are more drab. The amount of white on the neck and head is variable, as well as the bill, which can be yellow, pink, black, or any mixture of these. They may have white patches or bars on the wings, which become more noticeable during flight. Both sexes have pink or red wattles around the bill, those of the male being larger and more brightly colored.
This non-migratory species normally inhabits forested swamps, lakes, streams and nearby grassland and farm crops, and often roosts in trees at night. The Muscovy duck's diet consists of plant material obtained by grazing or dabbling in shallow water, and small fish, amphibians, reptiles, crustaceans, insects, and millipedes. This is an aggressive duck; males often fight over food, territory or mates. The females fight with each other less often. Some adults will peck at the ducklings if they are eating at the same food source.
The Muscovy duck has benefited from nest boxes in Mexico, but is somewhat uncommon in much of the east of its range due to excessive hunting. It is not considered a globally threatened species by the IUCN however, as it is widely distributed.
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
New Mexico
USA
Flock of Northern Pintails on a large lake in the refuge. Not the best image, but one that shows a number of these interesting ducks.
The pintail or northern pintail (Anas acuta) is a duck with wide geographic distribution that breeds in the northern areas of Europe, Asia and North America.
It is migratory and winters south of its breeding range to the equator. Unusually for a bird with such a large range, it has no geographical subspecies.
This is a large duck, and the male's long central tail feathers give rise to the species' English and scientific names.
Both sexes have blue-grey bills and grey legs and feet. The drake is more striking, having a thin white stripe running from the back of its chocolate-coloured head down its neck to its mostly white undercarriage. The drake also has attractive grey, brown, and black patterning on its back and sides.
The hen's plumage is more subtle and subdued, with drab brown feathers similar to those of other female dabbling ducks. Hens make a coarse quack and the drakes a flute-like whistle.
The northern pintail is a bird of open wetlands which nests on the ground, often some distance from water. It feeds by dabbling for plant food and adds small invertebrates to its diet during the nesting season.
It is highly gregarious when not breeding, forming large mixed flocks with other species of duck. This duck's population is affected by predators, parasites and avian diseases.
Human activities, such as agriculture, hunting and fishing, have also had a significant impact on numbers. Nevertheless, owing to the huge range and large population of this species, it is not threatened globally. - Wikipedia
SPONSORS:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(every Tuesday through Thursday)
Designers shown:
--->La Feminique - Celeste Violet - 85L$ (Freya, Isis, Hourglass, Kupra, Bimbo, Legacy + Perky, Maitreya + Petite, Standard)
--->Second Nature Jewelry - Heritage Bangles Gold - 85L$
--->Notable Art Gallery - "Goddess" & "Falling"
NOT SPONSORED BUT ALSO PART OF THIS WEEK'S MIDWEEK MISCHIEF
--->FricknFrack BSBN Faery Wings Fatpack - 65L$ (BBL, Belleza, Kupra, Maitreya, Reborn, Slink)
--->hell.o Poe Eyes 65L$ (BOM)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--->JULIETTE Lipgloss (applier for Evo & EvoX) @ the mainstore
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
--->Susanna Chair, Rug, Side Table, Strelitzia Nicolai Potted Plant and Zen Palm Potted Plant (all @ the mainstore)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
IMPORTANT DETAILS
--->Body Worn: Maitreya Lara
--->Head Worn: Lelutka EvoX Zora 3.1
--->Shape: custom shape by me
***FULL CREDITS COMING TO MY BLOG ASAP***
I'm just dabbling in every style until I can figure out my own. This was meant to be so much more natural and simple, but plans changed once we were finally ready to shoot.. the sun was no longer up! Haha. This is really different for me. I haven't taken a photo without natural light in years. :X
Well, this took foreverrrrrrr to edit and I had a million different versions of this.. But, I'm calling this one DONE. Despite the Flickr sharpening, what can ya do?
P.s. I wanna go to a beach!
Jake Hegel Photography Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Jake-Hegel-Photography/21335669868...
Deviantart: www.jakehegel.deviantart.com/
'Head On'. The colourful Drake Mallard breaking flight, West Yorkshire.
Many thanks for visiting my Flickr pages ...Your visits, interest, comments and kindness to 'fave' my photos is very much appreciated, Steve.
There are six hundred and twenty species of birds in the UK ...This little photogenic dabbling duck chap Mr Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) with his beautiful colours always shows up and never fails to disappoint me. The name Mallard originally referred to any wild drake.
Mallard
The expression “water off a duck’s back” is a reminder of the waterproof qualities of the feathers. They are kept waterproof by regular applications of oil from the preen gland.
Scoring a duck in cricket reflects the fact that the 0 on the score sheet resembles the shape of a duck’s egg.
Mallard remain a popular sporting bird: they can be shot inland from 1 September to 31 January.
Ducklings are almost exclusively insect eaters, only turning to a mainly vegetarian diet as they get older.
Historically, commercial duck decoys caught thousands of mallard every winter, with most of the birds caught being sent to Leadenhall Market.
A duck doesn’t feed her brood, as they are capable of finding their own food as soon as they leave the nest.
Once all the eggs have hatched the duck leads the brood away to water. They never return to the nest.
A typical clutch is from nine to 13 eggs, but as many as 18, laid by the same duck, have been recorded.
Incubation takes 27-28 days, and all the eggs hatch within the same 24-hour period.
During the summer moult the drake loses his fine feathers and looks very much like the duck.
Ducks will lay their eggs in a wide variety of sites, from grassy riverbanks to the tops of tower blocks. The downy young can survive jumps from great heights.
The mallard displays classic sexual dimorphism, which means that the drake’s plumage is quite unlike that of the duck’s.
Though they will pair up in the autumn, the drake only remains with his partner until she starts incubating, and has nothing to do with rearing the ducklings.
The Victorians knew the mallard simply as the wild duck.
Only the female, or duck, makes the familiar quacking. The drake’s call is a much softer and quieter note.
Though northern populations are migratory, European mallard rarely move south of the Mediterranean.
Mallard are widespread throughout Europe and Asia, occurring as far east as Japan, and they can also be found throughout much of North America.
Mallard are one of the few species of birds to have been successfully domesticated: the mallard is the ancestor of such breeds as the Aylesbury, Khaki Campbell, Indian Runner, Silver Appleyard and Rouen.
The mallard’s success is due to its adaptability, for it is a much at home on a town pond as it is on a Highland loch.
Both sexes become completely flightless during the summer moult.
Though generally regarded as the classic surface-feeding duck, up-ending in shallow water, they will dive for their food too if they need to. Notes Living With Birds.
Wikipedia: The garganey (Spatula querquedula) is a small dabbling duck. It breeds in much of Europe and across the Palearctic, but is strictly migratory, with the entire population moving to southern Africa, India (in particular Santragachi), Bangladesh (in the natural reservoirs of Sylhet district) and Australasia during the winter of the Northern hemisphere, where large flocks can occur.
Conservation status: Least Concern
The Green-winged Teal is the smallest dabbling duck in North America. This small Male was seen among Canada Geese and Mallards at Bowmanville Harbour.
In October of 23 my wife and I dabbled with the idea of adopting a dog, within a minute of casually searching an adoption site I can across a puppy that I just could not stopping admiring so made the call.. Odin, then snoopy, was all the way in the most southern part of Alabama and being in Rhode Island.. that’s a long drive. Fortunately, the adoption does trips up north once a month making stops along the way dropping off hundreds of dogs and cats, these people are amazing human beings giving new homes to animals that would have otherwise been stray or even worse.. The day finally came on November 19th, 2022. We woke up at 330am to drive to NY to meet the drop off, and this was where we met for the first time, this adorable little goof and he’s made my life soo much better! This photo was taken when Odin was just over 3 months old, he is now about a year and half and it’s the best dog I could ask for. PLEASE.. if you are thinking of adopting, I’m pleading, think of adoption. There are thousands of loving pets looking for homes, the right one is out there I fucking promise you that. The Island of Misfits Rescue is where Odin was born and they are amazing people doing amazing work. They are caring, loving people who have a huge task of taking in so many animals in search of new homes. It’s remarkable what they are doing. That’s all, thank you if you read this. ADOPT.
Just a wee bit of messing around on a cool grey day! The light was lovely but there were distractions so I had a wee mess. Normally I would prefer not to touch a wild animal shot but the light was so good and the background, although dark, was not.
Mom and Dad were close by but seemed to have no concern for me as I stood snapping away, I was withing 20 feet of the little ones, and zooming in on the lens, I was afraid they would soon be inside my focus range.