Saturday, April 8, 2017

A Male Scaup and a Pretty Spider

I had no idea what I was seeing when I took this photo of ducks in the little pond near my house.


But then I was on Frank's blog, Wildlife Watching with FAB and saw the male Scaup in one of his photos. And then I knew! I had seen one, too! I couldn't figure out why a duck had something that looked like a large white plastic spoon on it's side! hahaha! (thanks Frank for the ID!)

And if I liked spiders....which I don't....


I would say this one is beautiful.

Hubby took it at Sholom Park the other day. 


 Outstanding!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE
and I’d Rather B Birdin’ and
How Sweet the Sound Pink Saturdays!


34 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good Morning! Blogging is a good way to learn about new birds, flowers etc. Thanks for sharing the pretty photos this morning. God bless you both this weekend.

eileeninmd said...

Hello Diane, learning new duck id's can be fun. The male and female can look so different. The Scaups are pretty. That is a cool looking spider and the flower is beautiful. Great captures. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your weekend!

Lea said...

Beautiful rose! (and spider, too)

Latane Barton said...

I certainly would have said that the duck with the bulging spot was a pregnant female but what do I know. hehe

Susie said...

Diane, I love seeing new birds. But now you know, I only want to see spiders smashed on the sole of my shoe. :):) If I see a spidy in his web and it is not near the door, and never inside, I will leave it. I try never to get too close as some can jump ....goose bumps on my scalp now. Blessings to you and your hubby, xoxo, Susie

carol l mckenna said...

Diane ~ always a delight to photograph something new ~ that type of duck is new to me too ~ Great photos ~ thanks,

Wishing you a Happy Day ~ ^_^

ann said...

I can "hear" (read) the cheerfulness in your voice, Diane. I am so glad that you husband has a diagnosis. Years ago I received a similar diagnosis, though it was not the polymyalgia. Instead he called it just myalgia rheumatica. I had inflammation of the rib cage. Later another MD said I had fibromyalgia. Today, I just get stiff and sore and avoid sugar. My flair-ups are few and far between now. Once we get a diagnosis and learn how to manage our ailment, we begin to feel better. I am so glad that he knows what is wrong. Sometimes people suffer for years not able to figure out what is wrong with them.

Sam I Am...... said...

It did look like a big plastic spoon! LOL! Thanks for the nature lesson and such great photography!

Arlene G said...

Girl, you are teaching me lots about CRITTERS. You take those close up looks while I am running away.:)

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

I want to go outside :( and take pictures

Inspired By June said...

Looks like you have more than one "friend" enjoying the rose! It's always fun to find you've captured more in a picture that you realized. Great sighting and ID on the Scaup! Have a great weekend!

Linda said...

I love learning from other bloggers. Good sighting of the scaup. That spider is an interesting colour. Good photos. Enjoy the weekend.

Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie said...

Hi Diane, now that IS a rather pretty spider and it looks like he had a bee for dinner. If I didn't see the bee, I wouldn't know how BIG he was. Oh, I am getting the chills......The water fowl are interesting, too. Something I've never seen! Hope you and the hubs are doing well this weekend. xx Karen

Lowcarb team member said...

What a fabulous colour rose that is and a great close up of the spider, it has an unusual colouring.

Wishing you and your husband a good weekend.

All the best Jan

Kathy said...

You can have the spider (although some of them are pretty). But the picture of the ducks is just wonderful! I've never seen or even heard of a scaup.

Mary Howell Cromer said...

Oh No not me either...don't like spiders at all, but I do like to photograph them from a distance, outside. That one is pretty...for being a spider...Ugh ;)

Inger said...

I guess even I have to agree that's a beautiful spider. Just stay out of my house.

Lorrie said...

The plastic spoon made me laugh, but it`s an apt description. Glad you're able to get out and about a little these days.

Rose said...

I am not crazy about spiders on me, but I like the job they do. LOL Just so long as they are not where I am at. Except the garden spiders and I so love having them.

Stephanie said...

Amazing photos, my friend! That spider is quite remarkable and while I'm not a spider fan I would agree that it's beautiful :)

Hugs to you!

Blondie's Journal said...

Happy chance that you learned the name of the ducks this way, Diane! I often wonder about the names of the birds at the lake and it's always the locals who help me out.

Spiders...yeah, I don't like them either. And I wish I could appreciate this one but the more weird it looks, the more I think it must be venomous!! :)

Jane x

Anni said...

LOL...I too don't like spiders, and I did a double take when I read your post title...pretty spider? No spider is pretty. =for me

But the scaup in the water's edge is a good photo!!

Thanks for linking up this week at I'd Rather B Birdin'.

Jacqueline said...


The spider is a beautiful color. You share amazing pictures!

Jacqueline said...



The spider is a beautiful color. You share amazing pictures!

Vee said...

So that's what it is! One gets such an education in Blogdom. And the spider, while not particularly attractive, is a very pretty shade of fluorescent green.

cucki said...

so beautiful xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Crafty in the Med said...

I don't like spiders either but I have to agree this one in particular is very attractive so much so I think it helps to warn people not to touch.

The ducks fascinating ......Nature is tremendous and so beautiful.

keep well

Amanda x

RachelD said...

Diane,

It was lovely to have you drop in at LAWN TEA, and I'm so glad you liked my tiny kitchen! It's just bits and bobs of gifts and little ETSY finds and flea market "junque" built around the bones of the fridge, stove and sink of my own decades-old childhood dollhouse.

I'm enjoying my visit to YOU, as well, and since I've always had this weird affinity for spiders, I find this one quite lovely---almost as beautiful, in fact as my all-time favorite---a blog friend's ruby tarantula with glorious silver-tipped fur.

So glad to meet you, and I look forward to visiting you often.

rachel

NanaDiana said...

I have never seen those ducks either- now I have to do a bit of research on them!
AND...I guess if I have to look at a spider I would rather see a green one than a big black scary looking one...although they are all a bit 'sneaky' to me. lol
Have a great week- Hope hubby is getting better by the day. xo Diana

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

We sure can learn a lot by blogging! I hope I see this pretty duck sometime and remember your ID!! Glad your hubby is taking pictures again (which means he is out walking again, yay!) I'm fine with spiders as long as they stay outside. And that's a beautiful one. Love the rose and busy bee too.

Tom said...

...Scaup is new to me! Spiders aren't!

Marilyn @ MountainTopSpice said...

Wow, that is an amazing picture of the male duck and even though I don't care for spiders, that is a great picture of the green spider! Always fun when you learn new things :)

A Colorful World said...

That's such a springtime shot...pink camellia with green spider and bee. Loved it!

Red Rose Alley said...

What a pretty picture of the spider sitting on that Pink rose.

Happy Easter, Diane.

love, ~Sheri