That sunrise photo ... quintessential winter. SO beautiful! Thank you for venturing out in this weather to provide us with such glimpses of beauty. (I hope that means you're feeling better.)
Absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing! What a gift to have these conditions bring the ducks close, and the winter lighting is so varied and lovely. Thanks for braving the temps! :)
Wow, the mallards are huge! Also wanted to tell you that in St. Pete last week I saw a common gallinule, my first, which was very exciting and I knew a fellow bird fanatic would understand. Also a lovely anhinga drying out by a pond on campus.
New learning for me - that under the right conditions and in the right numbers geese can melt the ice they're resting on! And such a great illustration shot of just how large Mallards are and how small the Hooded Mergansers are.
Great photos Karen! When I lived along the river I loved to watch the geese and ducks frolicking in the cold water, diving for food, dodging ice. This is a good reminder to me to get out look for ducks and geese in the coming week.
Beautiful photos Karen and really amazing encounters. I like that photo of the pair of Mallards with the Hooded Mergansers - really nice comparison in size. I sometimes forget how large Mallards are compared to other waterfowl. I am looking forward to seeing more of your photos from this outing.
The female mergansers look a bit like Russian tzarists to me with their brown hoods up. And the males sound a bit like frogs. Thanks for providing the link! They are so striking in the air. Would love to see a small jet painted to resemble one with toes pointed back and all! Will be looking forward to more ducks. And thank you for that beautiful sunrise!
Hooded Mergansers! Oh my! As you spoke of bone chilling cold, I find it fascinating that the Hoodies are equally delighted to visit a small pond behind our home in Tallahassee, Florida, as well as other local ponds. They usually arrive around Thanksgiving or very early December, but the ranks of a dozen or more have now shrunk to a single pair occasionally. Thanks for your photos and informative commentary.
Thanks for your comment! Our Wood Ducks, the males so gorgeously appointed, zip along the length of the pond like missiles. Quite wary. Living in the Eastern flyway for North American migratory birds provides constant enjoyment. I marvel at Nature’s grand design. 😁
For certain! I love wood ducks and don't get to see them nearly enough. There used to be a pond near the campground but somehow it was drained and that's where I used to see them.
Our “leaders” pretend they can’t tell an ecosystem from an eggplant. The war of attrition on essential ecosystems, small zaps like the pond just now, or the nuclear hits on the Amazon Rain Forest, are shrugged off as necessary. For hyper-Capitalists.
That sunrise photo ... quintessential winter. SO beautiful! Thank you for venturing out in this weather to provide us with such glimpses of beauty. (I hope that means you're feeling better.)
Thank you Jeanne! I am feeling better.
Absolutely beautiful, thanks for sharing! What a gift to have these conditions bring the ducks close, and the winter lighting is so varied and lovely. Thanks for braving the temps! :)
Thank you!
Stunning images and words, Karen...made me want to bundle up while reading...
It was very, very cold! It's warmed up now. Thank you Ken!
Wow, the mallards are huge! Also wanted to tell you that in St. Pete last week I saw a common gallinule, my first, which was very exciting and I knew a fellow bird fanatic would understand. Also a lovely anhinga drying out by a pond on campus.
That’s so cool!!
Love the duck pictures❤️😍🦆… never tire of them ❤️😍👍
Thank you!
New learning for me - that under the right conditions and in the right numbers geese can melt the ice they're resting on! And such a great illustration shot of just how large Mallards are and how small the Hooded Mergansers are.
Crazy isn't it? Thank you!
Great photos Karen! When I lived along the river I loved to watch the geese and ducks frolicking in the cold water, diving for food, dodging ice. This is a good reminder to me to get out look for ducks and geese in the coming week.
Yes! Thank you!
Beautiful photos Karen and really amazing encounters. I like that photo of the pair of Mallards with the Hooded Mergansers - really nice comparison in size. I sometimes forget how large Mallards are compared to other waterfowl. I am looking forward to seeing more of your photos from this outing.
Thank you Neil!
The female mergansers look a bit like Russian tzarists to me with their brown hoods up. And the males sound a bit like frogs. Thanks for providing the link! They are so striking in the air. Would love to see a small jet painted to resemble one with toes pointed back and all! Will be looking forward to more ducks. And thank you for that beautiful sunrise!
Lol! The males do sound a bit like frogs. Thank you Sandy!
Hooded Mergansers! Oh my! As you spoke of bone chilling cold, I find it fascinating that the Hoodies are equally delighted to visit a small pond behind our home in Tallahassee, Florida, as well as other local ponds. They usually arrive around Thanksgiving or very early December, but the ranks of a dozen or more have now shrunk to a single pair occasionally. Thanks for your photos and informative commentary.
They love small ponds!! I do not generally find them out in the middle of the lake, unlike many other ducks. Thank you Gary!
Thanks for your comment! Our Wood Ducks, the males so gorgeously appointed, zip along the length of the pond like missiles. Quite wary. Living in the Eastern flyway for North American migratory birds provides constant enjoyment. I marvel at Nature’s grand design. 😁
For certain! I love wood ducks and don't get to see them nearly enough. There used to be a pond near the campground but somehow it was drained and that's where I used to see them.
Our “leaders” pretend they can’t tell an ecosystem from an eggplant. The war of attrition on essential ecosystems, small zaps like the pond just now, or the nuclear hits on the Amazon Rain Forest, are shrugged off as necessary. For hyper-Capitalists.
:( Yeah. I think this one had something to do with beavers to be honest, I don't think it was intentional!
I could look at ducks all day. thank you for the gift of your vision
Thank you Rebecca!