A few of the dozens of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks I saw earlier this week treated me to some fly-bys.
Most interesting was seeing the white wing stripe as they flapped by me.
August 29. 2021
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks In Flight
Category Archives: Duck
Peak-a-boo: Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
This was one of those “stop the car, back up” moments as we drove into a wildlife management area and Ted spotted an odd movement.
About then Ted spotted a second duck in the tree above that was quick to fly up onto a nearby stump and show off his pink feet.
These Black-bellied Whittling Ducks are quite striking with that white wing stripe setting off the brown and black of the body.
This one spent quite a few minutes poking at the top of the stump. I’m not sure what he was doing, they are mostly vegetarians but will eat insects so he may have been looking for a snack.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
August 29, 2021
Snowy Egret and Wood Duck Pals
These ramps are installed in ponds for Alligators to lounge where the tourists can see them but not be too close. The birds like a dry spot, too.
August 23, 2021
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks
This has been a summer for Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, with this sighting at the Magnolia Cemetery pond.
They are another bird that is expanding its range northward and I’ve only seen them in this area the last two or three years.
This pair alternated their time between sitting in the trees and sitting in the water on a very hot SC day.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
August 2, 2021
Young Wood Ducks
A pair of young Wood Ducks graced a small clump of reeds in the middle of the pond.
I didn’t see the one closer to me until it started swimming away, showing just a flash of blue.
The Boat Pond, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 23, 2021
Wood Ducks On Parade
The same day I saw the Wood Duck Ducklings I spotted three larger groups of older ducks in a nearby pond.
I suspect they are mostly this year’s hatchlings from earlier broods.
The one group that was closer to shore when I passed was quick to head towards the others.
The Boat Pond, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
July 23, 2021
Make Way – Wood Duck Ducklings
- I was quite surprised to spot young ducklings last week at Ravenswood Pond, thinking the season was past. I continued on my walk not expecting to see them again as they tend to make a beeline for the other side of the pond.
But, when I passed back by the ducklings were up near the shore. They quickly headed back out into the pond.
Which way?
They regrouped and stayed together for as long as I could spot them.
The mother didn’t show any concern.
For context, here is a pulled back view. Those ducklings are out there somewhere, tucked under the vegetation somewhere between mama and the juvenile Little Blue Heron.
Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks at Pond Edge
This is the opposite end of the pond where I photographed the Sunning Juvenile Alligators on Sunday. When the pond is filled this area is all under water.
Several Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks duos were in view and working the pond edge, along with some juvenile Gallinules.
This pair was was off by themselves.
Evidently they had no where to be and plopped down.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
July 25, 2021
Mallard Drake, Floating Along
I can’t resist taking images of Mallards, especially when a reflection might be involved.
This one didn’t have much to do, he slowly drifted from the shade of an overhanging tree out into the sunshine.
Wood Duck Ducklings
It was late afternoon and the light bad on pond of duck weed but I could not resist the Wood Duck family.
I counted 20 ducklings, although with all their scrambling around it’s hard to be sure.
The ducklings followed momma without hesitation as I’m sure she was looking for a safe place for the night.
