I see these from time to time, but they almost always seem to be sleeping the day away far in the middle of the water. This one is a bit drab with Winter coloring, but not too bad…
Ruddy Duck
These Harlequin Ducks were hanging out near the tidepools at Pistol River.
Harlequin Duck
Harlequin Duck
This is a female Harlequin Duck – flapping its wings as part of a preening process on a rock in the Quinault River in Olympic National Park. These ducks nest along tumbling mountain rapids, and spend their winters out to sea.
Once called Oldsquaw, these diving ducks often sport a long tail… though, this one looked a bit shabby… getting ready for a long winter.
Long-tailed Duck
Lesser Whistling Duck
June 2013 – Singapore
There were a number of these in the upper pond of the Botanical Garden in the middle of Singapore.
American Widgeon
March 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon
These were a fairly common sight on this morning at Sauvie Island.
Green-winged Teal
March 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon
Not the best photo, but my time with this pair was fleeting… they only appeared for a few moments among a number of other species.
Pintail
March 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon
Ok, not the greatest shot of a Northern Pintail, but it’s a start… about a dozen of them were over on the lake at Wapato access area.
Ring-necked Ducks
April 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon
Caught in the act… Gosh this doesn’t look too comfortable for the female, but I guess it works.
Ring-necked Duck
March 2013 – Sauvie Island, Oregon
Another pair… slightly closer, slightly better photo… different location.
Ring-necked Duck
April 2013 – Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge, Oregon
This pair of Ring-necked Ducks saw me from a 100 yards away, and were taking no chances… quickly swimming away…
Northern Shoveler
October 2012 – Fern Hill – Forest Grove, Oregon
This female Norther Shoveler only paused for a second before resuming her relentless search for morsels on the water’s surface. Those big flat bills are handy tools.
Northern Shoveler
A small group of males spent a good deal of time preening their feathers. After the preening, they flapped around a bit, getting all their feathers back into place.
Common Merganser
September 2012 – Hood Canal, Washington
A group of 4-5 female Common Mergansers were floating on small protected bay near the Hamma Hamma River on Hood Canal.