Winter Ducks Addenda

Well, I couldn't help myself. Just had to try to get a shot of the Ringneck female doing the dive. So while out this afternoon on the hunt, I get surprised by a big bird never seen on the pond. Enjoy my short addenda.

The two Ringnecks that are still hanging around the pond, both female.

This is the best shot I got. They rise up and dive, but you gotta be quick!

So welcome the Double-crested Cormorant. The only reason it has to be this breed is because all the others live in Nova Scotia! I was amazed when this big bird just dropped in all by his lonesome, and proceeded to dive and swim underwater across most of the pond. At first I thought it was a Great Blue Heron, because we don't usually get water birds this size.

Winter of Ducks on the Pond

We have been blessed this winter with the most amazing variety of ducks visiting our glorified stock tank we call the pond. Enjoy the sampling, and forgive any mis-identification. I have been poring over my Crossley Guide to get these right.

A couple of male Gadwalls. This has been our most common visitor over the years, even when no others drop by.

Gadwalls 'dunk' to do their eating, so it's 'tails up' on a regular basis.

Female Gadwall cruising close to my side of the pond.

First-time visitors, the male and female Northern Pintail. A very regal posture, and a long neck displayed on take-off.

I readied my camera to fire some shots off as soon as they were startled.

Knew I had a different duck when I got the shot, but didn't realize I had two different ducks. The one in full profile is a Redhead. The one to the left is a Canvasback. So there!

Related to the Redhead in that they are both 'divers' for food, this is the Ringneck. Some think the better name would be 'Ring-bill', because there is a distinct white ring close to the tip of its bill.

The male Ringneck duck, one we hadn't seen before this year.

About the same time the Ringnecks came in, some ducks with especially long bills also arrived. Another newbie, this is the Northern Shoveler, and sometimes they like to duck their heads under and do a little circle dance. Yeah, I googled it, nothing to do with mating! (They say they don't know why!)

A Ringneck and a Northern Shoveler, female or developing male.

This is another one that caught me by surprise, because I didn't even realize I had a picture of an unusual visitor. This is the Green-winged Teal.

The Northern Shoveler and her very long bill.

We had a male Mallard at one time, and even though many ducks resemble these, I believe they are female Mallards.

Sorry for the fuzzy pic, but wanted to show the female Ringneck Duck.

We still have the Ringnecks here, and winter isn't over, so we may have some more to share later.

Autumn Mix

Now that we've had some SERIOUS cold temps, (it did freeze at the office!) we're seeing some more of our regular winter residents. And with the pond full of water, returning water birds as well. Enjoy this week's offering of an Autumn mix.


When the cool temps come in and the pond thinks it's still summer, you get the steam rising off the pond in the early light. The view from the porch.


The House Finches grace us at the office more than they do at my porch. Same thing with the Lesser Goldfinches. So we get 'em where we can.


Here is a female House Finch at my watering dish at the office deck.


A rare visit of a Blue Jay at the watering dish. They are big-time hit-and-run artists.


Our pound puppy Mirabelle is settling in, and submitting to a little training. Very little, that is.


A Black-crested Titmouse at the feeder just off the porch.


We were excited to see a returning Great Blue Heron, first time since the pond filled back up. We have also heard a Kingfisher and Green Heron, but no pix yet.


A couple of male White-crowned Sparrows at the base of the platform feeder. A significant part of this pic is that there is green stuff in it, called grass.


This Tree Sparrow was checking out its image prior to taking a sip. Yes, those are blooms of a lantana below, another recent addition thanks to RAIN!


This Sparrow can't pause for long, there are lots of buddies waiting to take their turn.


A Chickadee and Sparrow at the porch feeder.


In honor of our friends and relatives who are St. Louis Cardinal fans. A series win well-deserved.


Male Cardinal at the feeder. I know that if there is seed in the feeders, they will come, whatever the season.




A House Sparrow that nests in our Purple Martin house. I guess everybody needs a place to live.


This Chickadee was just off the deck at the office.


It is rare to get the lighting so that you can see their eyes. They always disappear into the black feathers of their heads.




We have 'spotted' the Spotted Towhee at office and porch, and they have been very elusive. I got this blurry shot under the deck at the office. Stay tuned; this hunter will get his prey!


This fellow dropped in at the office deck, probably because some days there is a flock of White-wing dove gorging on my seed. Pretty sure this is a Red-tail Hawk.


I was firing as fast as I could, 'cause I knew he wouldn't be there for long.


The Scrub Jays are still hanging around the office deck, and with the window open, gave me the opportunity to get some good shots this week.


This shot is illustrative, as they are very loud and persistent, as their cousins the Blue Jay.




A parting shot of the pond as the sun rises and reveals deeper colors and brighter glory; the Glory of the Lord revealed in His creation.