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.

The one nice thing about winter is the light, even in full sun given how long sunrise is it gives one a much wider time window to photograph birds. This of course will go away soon when shooting more than hour after sunrise creates harsh conditions. But around the winter solstice, I feel like the light conditions are perfect for longer..

Finally managed to get a decent shot of this lovely female GWT, although never with her head up!

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.

Every year, the Pool seems to get one or a few star ducks that we do not see commonly. This year, it is the turn of this gorgeous Green-winged Teal drake, who was no doubt attracted here by three GWT hens. For this particular shot, he elected to pose on a rock, to display not just his plumage but his spectacular feet. No wonder this duck swims so well!

Admired at the Pool, Central Park, New York.

A handsome drake swimming in a pond towards the end of fall. Lots of fallen leaves in the water.

And another shot enjoying a moment on a log. Again those fall colours were gorgeous, a colour scheme that is richly reflected in the water

Visit me at my site natureasart.photoshelter.com

Female mute swan looking for something tasty at Magor Marsh.

A full sized female Agalenatea redii, an orb weaver. Lower Minnetts Field GWT reserve.

This 4 wheel version of the ever popular 8

wheel Defender originally went into service with

John Smiths and pulled a tanker trailer. It then

became a reliable work horse with a travelling

fairground.

Seen at Magor Marsh reserve.

Stadler GWT trains

Green-winged Teal

810 543-9 (ex ŽSR) nun im Auftrag von Koleje Dolnośląskie (KD) und GW Train Regio (GWT) im Grenzverkehr zwischen Polen und Tschechien.

Am 09. April 2019 von Sędzisław (Pl) nach Královec (Cz) als Os25417 im Bahnhof Královec.

This cracking wasp was on Alexanders flowers at Rogiet Poor Land reserve. HBBBT!

47813 'SS Great Britain', with the Great Western Trains ‘Merlin’ logo, passes Bedwyn Lock with the 1235 Paddington-Penzance service on 10 July, 1999.

A lovely weevil crawling across a wall at Magor Marsh.

Right, I really am going away for a few days this time, so I will be unable to comment on pictures. My thanks to everyone who has supported and helped me on Flickr to date.

Rather surprised that this made it into Explore, even if only briefly, but there you go.