Birding Pena Blanca Lake

As I mentioned in the last post, I didn't get my target bird: the Rufous Crowned Warbler at Pena Blanca Lake. I stood/sat along the cattails on the south side of the cove 1/3 mile above the boat lunch for two hours but the little guy never showed. However, I didn't come home without a photo. In fact, I got quite a few nice ones:

American Kestrel

Vermillion Flycatcher

Ruddy Duck

Black Phoebe

Ruby Crowned Kinglet

American Coot

Mallards

Vesper Sparrow

White Tailed Deer

Bridled Titmouse

Rufous Winged Sparrow

Great Blue Heron

Pyrrhuloxia

Red Tailed Hawk

Marsh Wren

Verdin

Husbands & Wives - Part II

More Husbands and Wives:

Mr. & Mrs. Mallard

Mr. & Mrs. Shoveler

Agua Caliente, Arizona - Part VI

In preparing for today's blog on Agua Caliente, I realized that there are so many ducks at Agua Caliente that I haven't taken a lot of photos of them. I guess after coming from the Northwest ducks become like quail and doves here. So, out of habit, I walk right past them looking for something more unusual.  But, I did pull out a few that I particularly like. The first is my favorite:

That's our grandson, Noah taken about 5 years ago.  He was so thin that putting a belt on him would be like trying to put a belt on a pencil. (You'll have to click on the photo to enlarge ).

Ring Necked Duck

Mallard Close-up

Mallard Chicks

Dabbling Ducks

A "Dabbling Duck" is a shallow water duck that feeds primarily along the surface of the water or by tipping headfirst into the water to graze on aquatic plants and vegetation. These ducks are infrequent divers and are usually found in small ponds, rivers and other shallow waterways. Dabbling ducks also forage on land for seeds and insects. Physically, they have flat, broad bills and float high on the water while swimming and they tend to be very vocal birds. Some of these Dabbling Ducks seem to "dabble" more often than not. The Northern Shoveler for example is usually got his head under water so you only see his tail. In terms of distribution, the Fulvous Whistling Duck is only found in the southernmost parts of Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. The Mexican Mallard is only found in Southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Mexico. The Eurasion Wigeon is only found in the northern Pacific. The Cinnamon Teal is only found in the Western United States. All others (Mallard, Gadwall, Northern Pintail, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Blue Winged Teal, and Green Winged Teal are found throughout North America.

American Wigeon

photo taken at Harriett Lake, Oregon

Eurasion Wigeon

photo taken at Union Bay, Washington

Blue Winged Teal

photo taken at Mercer Slough

Cinnamon Teal

photo taken at Sweetwater Wetlands, Arizona

Green Winged Teal

photo taken at Padilla Bay, Washington

Mallard Duck

photo taken at Mercer Slough, Washington

Mexican Mallard

photo taken at San Pedro River, Arizona

Fulvous Whistling Duck

photo taken at San Pedro River, Arizona

Gadwall

photo taken at Union Bay, Washington

Northern Pintail

photo taken at Davis Lake, Oregon

Northern Shoveler

photo taken at Sweetwater Wetlands, Arizona