Mallard ducks
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This Common Goldeneye drake is not looking at the clouds; he's displaying for a nearby hen. Often, they will lay their heads all the way back onto their backs and stare upward, as part of the mating ritual to attract the female.
Seen in Lake St. Clair, southeast Michigan.
A shoveler drake on the tack piece at Slimbridge Wetlands Centre, this was taken from the Stephen Kirk hide.
A handsome pintail drake on the Rushy Pen lake at Slimbridge Wetlands Centre, this shot was taken from the Rushy Pen hide.
mallard, wild duck or northern mallard duck
Stockente
[Anas platyrhynchos]
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I found this mallard drake along the shore of Lake Michigan in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. He was one of fifty taking a break on a grassy hump. Because they are so common around here, we often overlook how beautiful mallards are.
greenhead duck
warming in the winter sun
along the big lake
Image and haiku by John Henry Gremmer
A handsome pochard drake on the flooded tack piece at Slimbridge, this shot was taken from the Robbie Garnett hide.
One of a pair of gadwalls seen on the big pen lake at Slimbridge close to the boardwalk and main buildings on a recent visit. This is the handsome gadwall drake.
Here is the ringneck drake that was near, but not quite as comfortable as, the hen posted yesterday.
A male Mallard preening on the shores of Lake Ontario. Maybe he's getting ready for the mating season.
One from the files. A Christmas day Wood drake from 2016, at Wildwood Lake in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Thanks for the visit!
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A gadwall drake in the big pen at Slimbridge Wetlands Centre. I spotted this handsome bird with his mate close to the boardwalk outside the main buildings on my last visit.
Happy New Year everyone! Here is a shot from before the little ponds and pools froze over. A very friendly Green Winged Teal drake on a calmn day.
One of a number of mandarin ducks seen at Cannop Ponds in the Forest of Dean the Friday before last when I met up with flickr members Rod Holbrook and Matt Scott. This handsome drake swam quite near to the waters edge and I was able to get some close up shots
This beautiful Drake has set up home on my local canal over this winter but unfortunately has no mate to accompany him.
Hopefully he will move on soon and meet a partner.
I went to visit him this morning with the intention of getting a reflection shot as the conditions were overcast and calm and the was my favourite shot of the morning.
Still delving into the archives, more from my favourite place Northumberland. 12th of April and we're off the leash, I've already set my sights on a stunning bird of prey wish me luck.
This Mallard drake was guarding its mate and I was getting a little too close for his comfort. This was his high-head alert instinct kicking in, trying to decide between flight and fight.
Obviously my telephoto makes it look like I'm a lot close than I really was. I passed by from a distance and he went back to relaxing with his female hen :)
A gadwall drake on South Lake at Slimbridge Wetlands Centre, this shot was taken from the discovery hide and the light was in the right place for once.
What the heck, here is one more duck photo! Bufflehead drakes are extraordinarily colored ducks, with a white and black body, white hood, and rainbow irridescent facial feathers. Unfortunately, there was light cloud cover when this drake came close enough for a decent photograph, and his rainbow face was not lit up as much as I would have liked. Nonetheless, still the best shot of a Bufflehead drake that I have to date. View large for best experience.
Thank you for stopping by and Merry Christmas~!
First year Wood drake coming into his own.
Taken at Wildwood, Hbg, Pa.
Thank you for the clicks and comments!
f/6.3 1/640 sec. ISO320 600mmm
The sun popped out from the clouds there in Silver Creek Falls State Park located in Oregon. It was nice getting over to this park while visiting with family there in Oregon. Our last two times out to Oregon it was around 100 degrees F. So it was a pleasant time there this summer with temperatures in the lower 70's. Very nice hiking weather.
Wind whipping at 32 kph and -6.6 degrees I had to travel to Rockport to see Long-tailed Ducks. Unfortunately they weren't there but we did see these darling Wigeons!
These birds are usually very skittish and very difficult to photograph, but this fall at a marsh near Toronto a large group has been congregating close to shore as if almost to let the photographers take their photos. Also this is late for these birds - typically they would be on their way south as Ice would begin to build.
Caught this Drake at a small Pond .
Weather was far from being good heavy overcast
cold and light rain.
Medium sized perching duck
Breeding male has an iridescent green and white crested head, red eyes, red and white bill,
chestnut breast, golden flanks and iridescent back
Female is a drab version of the male but is considered striking compared to other duck hens.
Wood ducks typically pair on the wintering grounds or on the return migration to the breeding grounds
Arrive on breeding grounds in April
Nests in preformed tree cavities made by tree diseases, fire scars, lightning, and cavity-making birds like pileated woodpeckers for nest sites and also use artificial nest boxes
Females lay 7-15 white-tan eggs which they incubate for an average of 30 days
Male begins to spend less time with female once she begins incubating eggs
Females stay with young until they have fledged and then leave to undergo a feather molt.