Tag: bird photography

Hybrid Mallards?

On By Mike and Christy45 Comments

MallArd_hybrid_1

There are four photos in the full post.

A few weeks ago we noticed these three ducks all hanging out together that looked a bit like mallards but they were darker in spots and the coloration was just not typical of a mallard. In addition,one guy had some strange poofy feathers on his head. They were also much larger, almost goose size, compared to the typical mallard.

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At first I thought they might be melanistic mallards, expressing excess feather pigmentation. However after reading more on melanistic animals I think they are probably some type of mallard hybrids. When we first saw these guys they seemed out of their element in the local pond. All three hung out very close together the whole time we observed them even dabbling in unison for food. Perhaps another case of pet ducks released into the wild just like our encounters with the Pekin and Mandarin ducks in the past.

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If anyone can shed some light as to the exact origins of these hybrids it is welcome. Until then they remain a bit of a mystery to me.

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Stained Glass

On By Mike and Christy14 Comments

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When photographing this Chickadee it felt like looking into a wonderful stained glass window. This Chickadee was in a dark forest of thorny shrubs with just a hint of light shining in through the golden leaves that still remain on the trees behind. As a bonus we were treated to the choir singing away with a chorus of Dee-Dee-Dees from deeper within these bushes.

Grouse

On By Mike and Christy24 Comments

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A downed tree makes a great place to lookout and survey your territory. We are not sure if this is spruce grouse or a ruffled grouse but it sure is a fine looking grouse and any grouse ID tips you can share would be appreciated. Photographed near, but not quite in, Yellowstone National Park earlier this year.

Breakfast of Champions

On By Mike and Christy21 Comments

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We think Wheaties whereas Pacific Oyster Catchers prefer limpets. We have always had a hard time getting close enough to oyster catchers to get a really good photograph but this day low tide and the lure of a beach teaming with limpets must have outweighed their concern for our presence. There were two Oyster Catchers each going to town on the limpet population on this rocky beach. They would pry them up and them swallow them whole. A true breakfast of champions.

Peekin’ Pekin

On By Mike and Christy17 Comments

Peekin_pekin

A domestic Pekin duck peeking out from behind the shrubs on the local pond. Last year the pond was visited by a domestic mandarin this year it looks like a Pekin has made this place his home. Not sure if these domesticated ducks flew the coop or were abandoned but it is fun to see them join the mix of winter visitors which are just starting to arrive.