I have a terrible time identifying the birds I see at the little pond near my house.
As soon and I think I am sure, I change my mind!
I was calling this a Mottled Duck but it is BIG…as big as a goose!
(There’s one in the water in front)
And I know that this is a Hooded Merganser!
With his brood!
But what are these in the pond on another day?
Are they Mergansers or Wood Ducks?
There was a nice big flock of them!
I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE
and I’d Rather B Birdin’.
Thanks for your help!
41 comments:
Hello, Nice variety of ducks. Photo #1 & 2..I am not sure about the Mottled, there are many hybrids Mallard ducks out there. Photo #3 Hooded Merganser with two Pied Billed Grebes. Photo # 4 You are correct on the Hooded Merganser, also with the Hooded is the female Hooded Merganser. Photo #5 male and female Hooded Mergansers. The female Hooded Merganser is mostly brown and has a cute "do". . The last photo has some of the cute Ruddy Ducks, they have that stiff tail feathers sticking up in the air. I do not see any Wood Ducks. Great series of photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!
I don't know what they are but I sure enjoyed the fun photos! You live in a beautiful area. Enjoy your Saturday.
We have lots of birds and ducks and geese at the pond at our little house. I am going to have to invest in a book that will tell me what each bird is! We do have a blue heron as well...we love watching all the wildlife there.
The only ducks I know are mallards. You have a large variety there!
Beautiful. I love seeing them and hearing them! Have an awesome weekend!Maggie
There are times when I miss our pond at our home in Connecticut. Seeing all your wildlife is one of those times. I did see a Canadian Goose fly over yesterday which brought back memories. Lovely photos, Sis XOXO
Hi Diane! I don't know my birds or ducks but you sure are getting some great shots of them. Thanks for popping in to see me and you're right - I do remember the sweet little animals on baby furniture! Have a great weekend.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)
Not a 'bird watcher' per se so would trust Eileen's identification ~ either way they are lovely photos of some of nature's gems ~ thanks,
Wishing you a Happy and Peaceful weekend ~ ^_^
Love seeing the many different Ducks.
I have seen many but not all you posted.
I don't need no stinkin' names. Just enjoying them is good nuf. :)
You may not know the names but you know, capture, and share the beauty! Thanks
I can't identify birds except things like sparrows, robins and cardinals. But I love looking at them. You did a terrific job with the photos.
I have no idea of the different names of types of duck or geese, or most other birds for that matter. All I know is that I enjoy watching them. It's so enjoyable and relaxing :)
Have a great weekend.
Connie :)
You got your help from the expert right there at the top of your comments. Eileen has helped me out more than once. Lovely to have such a nice pond near you.
Oh, wonderful! I always though those were wood ducks but then I'm no expert. I just love em. Someone called them Mergansers so I'll take their word for it (and should probably find my post where I had a photo of one like it and called it a wood duck!)
Great you got some answers, I don't have a clue. But I love your pictures, they are so clear and beautiful.
Diane, I don't know what these pretty ducks are, but they are beautiful. I'm sure you must enjoy seeing them paddling in that pretty pond. You've captured their beauty so nicely with your camera. ♥
Lots of great sightings. I know what you mean about thinking your have it ID'd right and then along comes more info to change your mind.
Well, I'm glad that others ere able to help identify your finds, which are super, by the way...:)JP
Loons?
Those babies are sooo precious:)
Instead of repeating Eileen's comment....I'll just say ditto. I 2nd her words.
Great photos Diane. Absolutely great.
Love the male hooded mergansers. And the 'female' could possibly be a red breasted merganser, but that she's with a hooded M...I'm inclined to still say female hooded....do a google search for female red breasted merganser and see what you think ... she has an orange beak tho I think, so this one, tho shadowed looks dark.
Thanks so much for adding your post link at I'd Rather B Birdin' this week. Your participation is always appreciated.
And they're all so pretty! Great photos Diane, (it looks wonderful there!) and it's a pretty sure thing that Eileen would know the answers to all things birdie!! xo
As a child, I loved to feed the ducks at the town pond. :-)
That Mergaster reminds me of Elvis for some reason.
I am with you on not knowing my waterfowl...I know a few, but sure not many!
I have a hard time identifying the ducks too, Diane, but these sure are pretty. I love those ones with the white bellies. :)
What beauty you come across when you're out on your walks.
love, ~Sheri
I knew that Eileen was going to help you out, but I had no idea that she'd see all that! I saw two kinds of birds...very unobservant of me. Ha!
Hi Diane, nice shots of all the wonderful waterfowl! I would not have known any of them.....Lol!, but after reading Eileen's comment, now I know what they are. She is the expert here in blog-land! They are all pretty amazing, especially the hooded fellow. Such beautiful markings. It must be so nice to take a walk and see them all bobbing about. Sending hugs xo Karen
Hello Diane. I think Eileen sorted it for you qand your ducks. Why not invest ina field guide? For a few dollars it's good to put a name to all the birds you see.
seems you got all help you needed. Love the different mergansers :)
I read Eileen's comment above with her great ID of the ducks in your photos. Last year I learned about mallard hybrids. I saw a weird looking huge green duck in our local marsh and could not identify him. Eileen suggested the hybrids, and when I googled images, I discovered that those promiscuous mallards mate with all kinds of other ducks and these hybrids are everywhere! I haven't seen the big green guy this year, so maybe he became someone's dinner :(
Wendy
Enjoy your hike:)
Hope it's all kinds of fun.
Eileen's ID is great! I don't know all the details of the various species, either. I do have a bird book and I'm slowly learning, but as soon as I see one, and then another, I forget which is which unless I have the book handy. Which I don't. Great photos, enjoy the birds as they are!
looks like eileen and anni were able to help you, perhaps even some more kind peeps but i did read their comments!! beautiful captures, i love the mergansers!!!
I'm with you, I find it hard to identify birds (and trees for that matter). There are so many varieties.
I'm not that good naming all the ducks either but I do like looking at them. : )
Yes, I too knew Eileen would be able to help out ...
Great photo's
All the best Jan
Great to read your comments...I'm not too good with names of waterfowl and birds. I find that asking the 'natives' in my area helps.
Great photos!!
Morning Girlfriend! Yes, he does like a big one! Hope y'all had a nice weekend. Are y'all football fans and did you watch the big game? Yes..you noticed two of my dollies on the sidebar, and nope,I never really did get around to introducing them...I am so behind on posts and pictures and visiting sites, LOL LOL...hope to be catching up this week. Maybe. Hopefully!? LOL We did have a nice quiet weekend here and got in two or three nice walks, one not so nice Saturday night, mercy it WAS SO DARN COLD! ha ha Sunday was much warmer and much better, all I needed was a hat and some long sleeves and enjoyed a nice long beach day. We saw the Wish tree--it's on the blog today. That was fun to see!
Good Morning, Diane! I don't know a thing about ducks so I called Chad in to identify them. Then I scrolled down and saw that Eileen had already identified them. Coming to your blog is like attending a birding class every day. Thank you for giving us something beautiful to think about! Blessings to you!
So glad Eileen id'd the ot hers as I have not a clue! But truly loved your photos!
What fun ducks - some I've seen and some are new to me. I'd like to see a Ruddy duck but I don't think we have them here. We do have all kinds of mergansers. Have a ducky week my friend.
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