A female or immature Northern Shoveler was feeding on her own, with a nice reflection from my angle.
One of the dabbling ducks, Shovelers feed on aquatic invertebrates and seeds, usually sweeping their beak side to side. In deeper water they will perform the full body dunk.
They are identified by their distinctive wide bill.
Black Point Wildlife Drive, Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 1, 2024
Ted and I just came back from six days in Florida. We had wonderful weather and photographed a wide variety of birds. There were hundreds and hundreds of Coots, and they show up in a lot of my images.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
January 19, 2023
Another odd gathering of birds at the rice field pond that has been drained in preparation for repairs and a controlled burn.
Northern Shoveler and four YellowlegsMagnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
November 3, 2022
Most of the birds we saw on Bulls Island were far off, but there was a lot of variety. This fresh water pond was hosting wading birds, ducks and shore birds.
A path between two ponds had a few spots where you could peak between the underbrush for a better view.
A group of shore birds was making the rounds.
Bulls Island is a 5000 acre barrier island off the coast of South Carolina with multiple ecosystems including maritime forest, fresh and brackish water impoundments and salt marsh.
April 3, 2022
This pair of Northern Shovelers was sticking together as they worked the pond in the early morning light. They were one of only a few water birds in the area that was patrolled by at least two pairs of Bald Eagles making them easy targets.
Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, Florida, 2/21/2018.
