1/18/2012

Sweetwater Shovelers

One of birds I most wanted to see in Arizona was a Northern Shoveler. I've been looking for a Northern Shoveler for years. That's not an exaggeration, either. I just had to see one, and I was thrilled to learn that Shovelers are among the most common ducks in southeast Arizona.  We got up bright and early on our first full day in  in Tucson, and headed out to Sweetwater where my son had assured me I would get my fill of Shovelers.

Minutes after our arrival I was jumping up and down with excitement. There they were! Northern Shovelers! Lots of them! Tom and I were clicking away like crazy, and we got some damn good pictures.

The Shoveler’s incredibly long bill was as fantastic as I had imagined. These ducks look nothing like any other species I've come across. I was surprised by how tiny they were, though. They're much smaller than mallards, for instance.

Other than size, and if you exclude that great big black bill, there are a lot of similarities between Mallards and Northern Shovelers.  Perhaps too many similarities!

It didn't take long for me to notice that there were more hybrids paddling around than any one single species.  It was patently obvious that Mallards, Wigeons, Shovelers, and God knows what else were interbreeding like crazy.  The family group pictured above is a good example of what I'm talking about!

In all honesty, my love affair with shovelers was somewhat short-lived.  Not that I dislike them, mind you. I'm just not head over heels any longer.  Who could resist a photo op like this one. though?

14 comments:

  1. Beautiful captures! Love their uniquebeak

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    1. Thank you, Susan! They were fun to watch. Later on I'll be posting about other amazing birds we saw at Stillwater.

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  2. Outstanding Northern Shoveler images! I too was all excited when I saw my first one. Love their broad bills. Your reflection photographs are especially beautiful. Wonderful post!

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    1. Thanks, Julie. We did get lucky with the photos considering the overcast skies. Who knew it could be so cold and rainy in the desert?

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  3. Wonderful photos of a beautiful and interesting looking duck!

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    1. Thank you, Robert. He's a weird duck, all right! (Sorry - I couldn't help myself!)

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  4. great photo of the "drooling" Shoveler. Also the one photo looks like a circus act, two standing atop two others
    nellie

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    1. I like those two photos too, Nellie! The drooling one is probably my favorite of the bunch!

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  5. Beautiful photos of such an interesting looking bird!

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    1. Thank you, Tammy. They are different-looking birds to start with, but the hybrids can be truly one-of-a-kind!

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  6. If I just saw the last photo and knew you were in Arizona..I would have know it was Sweetwater. I remember the ducks in areas like that and the awesome reflections. you captured it beautifully! Love Sweetwater!

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    1. Thank god for you, Dawn! I hadn't even noticed the spellcheck had changed the name of the place! How utterly humiliating! Thank you SO MUCH!

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  7. Susan..ha ..that's so funny..I didn't even notice a misspelling. Well, glad I could help..hee hee.

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    1. Dawn - I thought yours was the most tactful correction ever! Still, I'm grateful that you've been everywhere and know everything - grateful and jealous!

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I love positive comments, critical comments,and corrections most of all!