Category Archives: Duck

Gadwall

February 19, 2020 Ellen Jennings 1 Comment

A few Gadwalls have been hanging out at Ravenswood Pond for the winter. They have been pretty quick to move to the middle or far side of the pond if they sense any human activity. On this day this small group took their time passing by me.

They will be heading out soon on their spring migration.

This scene is looking the length of this rectangular, man-made pond. The “skinny tree” I sometimes mention is hosting a Great Blue Heron and can be made out on the right.

There is duck weed all around the pond and some other bright green pond vegetation has thrived on the right-hand side.

Duck

Blue-winged Teal

February 18, 2020 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Coming straight at me, this trio of Blue-winged Teals looked like they were on a mission.

Of course they turned, providing a more classic view, which was quickly followed by a view of their tail ends.

Duck

Mottled Duck, 2

January 21, 2020 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

This pair of Mottled Ducks had been snugged up against the pond shore, then calmly paddled away as I approached.

They didn’t go far and swung around to catch the morning sun.

The pair stuck pretty close together, paralleling the shore line.

Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 6, 2020

Duck, Landscape, Wading Birds

Follow The Leader

January 15, 2020 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

The sun was going down behind me as I looped back by the pond where I had photographed the Mottled Duck pair and Tricolored Heron.

I took some landscape images and then realized the ducks and heron were still there, in the tall grass.

Pond, Sun's Last Rays — Pond, Sun’s Last Rays

The Tricolored Heron started working his way back out into the open.

And the ducks followed him.

The heron continued to wade and the ducks swam behind, all in a row.

Duck

Mottled Duck

January 14, 2020 Ellen Jennings 6 Comments

This pair of Mottled Ducks was swimming in and out of patches of late afternoon sun on a shallow pond.

I stopped at a bench at the edge of the pond and they watched me as I watched them.

Baily Tract, Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 6, 2020

I used the Merlin App to identify these as Mottled Ducks. Further reading at Cornell’s All About Birds:

It’s reminiscent of a female Mallard or an American Black Duck, but this is the closely related Mottled Duck. They’re so closely related that hybridization, especially with Mallards, poses a real threat to the Mottled Duck’s future.

In Florida, hybridization with introduced Mallards has produced many so-called “Muddled Ducks,” and care is needed to confirm identification of a “pure” Mottled Duck.

Duck, Wading Birds

In Flight

November 11, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Ducks have been showing up around the various ponds I frequent and I was hoping for some decent in-flight views. The ducks had other ideas this day and kept their flight patterns close to the marsh grass.

A Great Blue Heron was a little more obliging as he winged past me.

Duck

Wood Ducks Are Back

October 17, 2019 Ellen Jennings 5 Comments

Yesterday was the first time I’ve seen more than two or three Wood Ducks together since last spring’s ducklings matured earlier in the summer.

Several were lined up on an Alligator ramp as I approached and a few small groups were paddling around in the pond. They tend to be skittish and their general direction was away from me, but a couple more flew onto the ramp.

I heard a Hawk call in the distance and these two groups and about twenty more that I didn’t even know were there in the tree line along my path flew off in a frenzy. Sadly, no photos of that!

Duck

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

July 31, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

I’ve stopped to watch Black-bellied Whistling Ducks in this marshy area several times this summer. One day last week a few were quite close to the walk way and were less skittish than on previous visits.

Some of the chicks are nearly adult size but are still sticking close to a parent.

This one had been standing on the end of the of the walkway and decided to join the others…

…landing in the short greenery with the family group behind him.

Duck

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Pair

July 1, 2019 Ellen Jennings Leave a comment

There were several pairs of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks around the edges of a pond, mostly tucked into the vegetation. Neither one of this pair moved a bit after I spotted them.

From another direction this pair took flight towards another connected pond, showing off more of their striking colors.

Duck

Mama Wood Duck Plus Eight

May 8, 2019 Ellen Jennings 2 Comments

Shortly after the nice surprise of seeing a Wood Duck with two ducklings on Sunday I came upon this one with eight ducklings.

They were paddling along all together in a tight group at first but eventually spread out enough for me to count them.

They followed the pond to the corner then did an about face and headed back the way they came, sticking pretty close to mom. The water was reflecting the dead brown grass on the bank so this image isn’t that pretty, but you can see each duckling distinctly.