Ducks: Part II

Continuing with photos from my new book, part II of Ducks:

Canvasback

Cinnamon Teal

Eurasion Wigeon

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Gadwall

Lesser Scaup

More from Sweetwater Wetlands

As I began working on Today's blog post I noticed what countries were visiting today: United States, Canada, Aruba, Brazil, Colombia, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Jordan, Russia, Ukraine, India, and Australia - people across five continents. People interested in wildlife regardless of nationality, race, religion, or politics.  Thank you all for visiting The Azure Gate Blog.

Yesterday, I had a little time so headed over to Sweetwater Wetlands -- a good weekend birding site.

Most of the attention is usually paid to the waterbirds in the wetlands themselves. However, the mesquite trees, willows, cottonwoods, and brush provide wonderful warbler habitat. Yesterday was no different as migration is starting to show in big numbers.

Here then some photos from yesterday:

yellow warbler

mallard ducklings

cinnamon teal

common yellowthroat

wilson's warbler

unable to identify warbler, possibly a young yellow

Sweetwater Wetlands Revisited

Sweetwater Wetlands is know for its wetlands and it certainly gets a nice mixture of waterbirds year round. But surrounding the water are cottonwoods, willows, and mesquite trees with provide a haven for other birds. 

Today a few of the waterbird photos I particularly like and next post will be the others:

These waterbirds aren't rare to Arizona or to Sweetwater. However, I liked the composition and colors in these particular photos:

Cinnamon Teal

Green Heron

Mallard Duck

Sw

Birding Sweetwater Wetlands - Part V

Although not nearly as abundant as Mallards, Northern Shovelers, or American Wigeons, Cinnamon Teals are fairly common in the Western part of the United States. Yet, I can't help myself when I see one. They are so beautiful, deep rich "cinnamon" color with eyes that jump out at you. So, a photo is always in order:

Cinnamon Teal

In addition to birding Sweetwater Wetlands, there is always the possibility of seeing Bobcats or Raccoons. This day was no exception. In the photo below, two raccoons were crossing the Gazebo Pond: 

Raccoon

Sweetwater Wetlands

A quick trip to Sweetwater Wetlands produced a few nice photos though nothing rare:

Cinnamon Teal

Cooper's Hawk

Gadwal

Green Winged Teal

Snowy Egret

Yellow Rumped Warbler

Whitewater Draw

Whitewater Draw, 25 miles southeast of Tombstone is one of the premier winter birding sites in the US. It never fails to provide photos. Last week Christine and I picnicked and walked the dikes. Here are a few of the photos:

Ruddy Duck

Cinnamon Teal

Pied Billed Grebe

Eared Grebe

White Crowned Sparrow

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Common Gallinule

Agua Caliente - Part V

Agua Caliente also has a full array of the usual ducks and coots. Nothing really unique. Lake Cochise is probably the best place to see sandpipers, curlews, godwits, avocets, stilts, etc. Coming from the Northwest where waterbirds are as plentiful as house sparrows, I sometimes overlook them here in Arizona. But, where there is water there is usually wildlife. Here are some of the ducks from Agua Caliente:

American Wigeon

Mallard Chicks

Ring Necked Duck

Northern Shoveler

Cinnamon Teal

From Mothers with Babies to Husbands and Wives.

More pairs. Now,  Husbands and Wives.

Mr. & Mrs. Cardinal

Mr. & Mrs. Cinnamon Teal

Sweetwater Wetlands

Summer is our off season, so I get more time off. In addition to the obligatory family outings (which I love) I get a chance to get into the wilderness and hike and photograph wildlife. Sometimes the trips are for several days (the Chiricahua trip last week) and sometimes just a day trip. A couple of days ago I headed out on a day trip to Sweetwater Wetlands, Columbus Lake, Rio Rico Ponds, and finally Madera Canyon. Today, I'll show some photos from Sweetwater Wetlands.

Female ducks can be hard to identify if males aren't around. In the first photo you she that the hen has red eyes. Red eyes are either Cinnamon Teals, Canvasbacks, Wood Ducks, or Red Breasted Mergansers. Since those plumages are very distinctive it is easy to differentiate the Cinnamon Teal. The female Mallard (in the third photo) is showing her very colorful and distinctive blue and white bars on her wing.

Cinnamon Teal, the hen in front and juvenile in back.

Mallards and a Coot

Mallard Hen

Great Egret

Desert Pocket Mouse

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