Category Archives: ducks

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A Long Tail to Tell – Day 67

I so remember when I spotted my first Long-tailed this winter, they almost looked like a combination between a duck and a dog of some kind!

And on my recent trip to MacMillan Wharf in PTown, I was able to get a bit closer to these amazing sea birds.


Amazing coloring, wild feathers, they are one of my new favorites!


Someday, with a really long lens, I hope to do them better justice, but at least I got a bit closer than my first attempt a month or so ago at Bank Street Beach.


They are the most amazing things to watch, out there on the rolling waves, flipping up those tail feathers and leaving bird lovers like me wanting more…


Until next time!  😉


❤

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The Wood Duck, New Life Bird – Day 60

Sharing another “new life Bird” for me, the Wood Duck – and they came as a pair of drakes!


Finally getting the photos edited from this amazing cold, January morning.

Have to put on my “milliner’s hat” for tonight and get our new auction hat for Old Friends up and running – but more pics of these amazing ducks to come!  😉

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New Life Bird – Northern Pintail – Post 37

And to think I had almost turned the key and headed for home.

Nothing much was happening at the harbor; I’d arrived late, long after most of the ducks had moved on up the channel at the harbor.

When all of a sudden, in flew three ducks who landed skerPLASH on the water in front of me.

A pair of Mallards… and  a third duck I’d never seen before.

He had a beautiful chocolate head, white and brown mottled feathers, white chest with a sliver of white going up the neck – and a bluish bill that glowed in the glare of morning light.


He was swimming quickly by, but I was fortunate to get a snap or two as he passed.

I found out later, it was a Northern Pintail drake, another “new life bird”!  Woo HOO!  😉  ❤

 

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Long-tailed Ducks Love the Chop at Bank Street Beach – Day 20

I was walking Bank Street Beach the other afternoon, photographing gulls.

It was really windy, the seascape full of chop, and it wasn’t one bit easy holding the camera steady.

Just then I noticed something out in the water that I’d never seen before.


A tiny little head, swimming among the eiders and gulls.


And when I saw it pop up again, between the choppy waves, I couldn’t believe my eyes!


What was that?

Three long, long tail feathers, a real short bill with a pink ring, white-gray-black feathers, and black “smudges” on the side of the head that almost looked like ears.

Was this a bird, or a dog?!  😉


I later found out that it was a Long-tailed Duck…


And he wasn’t alone!


Long-taileds breed in the far Arctic regions, wintering here on the East Coast and on the West Coast as well.

And lucky for me, unlike most ducks the Long-taileds sport their striking plumage during nonbreeding season.

I sure would’ve hated to miss those tail feathers, they were outa’ this world!


I thought I counted three ducks in all, and they were busy as beavers; flying to and fro abruptly, then diving under the waves with great splashes.


When I turned to leave, I thanked them for visiting with me and becoming my newest “new life bird”.

Shaky camera and all, they took my breath away!   😉


❤

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Greater Scaup Meditation – Day 26 (Part II)

The sundown moments I had with this (my very first) Greater Scaup this past week were some of the most special of my short time photographing wildlife.


There are no words to describe what it feels like to be crouching down…


Waiting for a bird to relax, as I relax.

It’s almost a meditation, requiring focus, patience — and good knees!  😉


This beautiful Lady rewarded me.


And then some.


❤