Make no bones about it, I get excited watching the less common waterfowl that overwinter on the local creeks and ponds, but there is just something special about the Mallard. Maybe a comforting familiarity or perhaps their mild demeanor and wonderful quacking. Anyway, this guy sure stood out the other day. Well dressed in his finest breeding feathers saying what needed to be said in such a simple way.
Every winter there seems to be a single wood duck couple inhabiting the stretch of the south platte river we visit to photograph the waterfowl that overwinter in the area. This years is no exception.
A family of coots in the foreground and a lone pie-billed grebe chick enjoying a late afternoon shower.
A nice telephoto lens can be a great learning tool and this shot is a good example. You think you are being sneaky, hidden behind the shrubs on the rivers edge, watching this pair of Northern Shovelers feeding. Then you peer through your lens and lo and behold they are looking right back at you. Still feeding, relaxed, yet aware of your presence. Ecological awareness on display.
Two male goldeneyes working hard to impress a female in the late afternoon light. These guys will likely only be around here a few more weeks. As spring arrives most of the waterfowl leave my area. Their yearly coming and going gives rhythm to life. Have a great trip north and someday I hope to join you.
An infrequent sighting on our local pond was this Red Breasted Merganser. When we arrived he was off in the distance head tucked and floating as he snoozed on a chilly morning. After watching him, as well as the hoodies and shovelers on the pond for an hour or so, he woke up swam around a bit, dove for some crawfish and flew away. Luckily he swam our way and we were able get a good look at a good looking bird and snap a few photos.
A male Redheaded Duck enjoying the late afternoon sun on a chilly winter afternoon.
A northern shoveler taking to the skies in the last rays of golden light. Photographed along clear creek in Denver, CO.
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.
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.
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.
Well not just any two birds. A mom Merganser and her lone chick. They were quietly sitting on this log as I paddled by in my kayak. I was able to snap a few pics before moving on in leigh lake GTNP.
nature has no boss 
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