Fantastic Flight Photos!

My husband took all of these fantastic birds in flight group. He is awesome at the action shots! This is a female mallard coming in for a landing right under the bridge.


Female Mallard after the crash landing.


My husband also captured an incredible series of this mallard in flight with his shadow on the icy water.


Another of the mallard with reflection.


This is a ring-billed duck in flight, taken from an unusual angle. I love that eye!

Ring-necked Ducks with Ringed Necks!

Usually it is very difficult to see the crimson ring around their necks that gave this species the name Ring-necked Duck. These two were very cooperative, however.


It is much easier to see the ringed bill than the ringed neck - especially from a distance. You can see why they are often erroneously called ring-billed ducks.


The female Ring-necked gave equal time to both her male companions.


The two males have slightly different plumages. I don't know if the one on the far left is still molting or if he's a juvenile.


Ring-necked Duck walking (well, running, actually) on water.

Ring-necked Ducks on the Sudbury Reservoir.

Monday afternoon, my son and I visited the Sudbury Reservoir. I wanted to find the unknown species of duck I thought I saw there the day before. At first we saw only Mallards. These two were pretty close to us. I thought they looked lovely against the reflected foliage.


A closer look revealed some kind of neck injury on the male. What the hell IS that?
NOTE:  I've been informed that the mallard could simply be molting, and it is probably not injured.  I failed to research that statement, obviously.  Sorry.


The female on her own.


Two of many Blue Jays seen on Monday.


The only really decent picture I took that day: a cute little Chickadee!


Just as we were about to leave, my son spotted the mystery ducks! He took this photo, which clearly shows these are Ring-necked ducks.


I still think there was another species of duck on the Sudbury Reservoir on both Sunday and Monday. I only saw them at a distance, but I think they were more black and white than the Ring-necks. I think this picture may include something different. I'm referring to the small black and white looking duck just right of center. On the other hand, it could be just a trick of the light.

Broadmoor Sanctuary Natick 3/20/09

My first Ring Necked Ducks ever!

Sorry that the pictures aren't great. I'm getting a new telephoto lens soon, which may help a little.

Anyway, it was a great day at Broadmoor, a Mass Audubon Sanctuary in Natick. I also saw my first bluebird (which makes me sound like even more of an amateur than I am, I know). My son works there, and we hoped to see a woodcock, but didn't. Of course, the next evening he and a friend saw one taking off and landing not ten feet away from their picnic spot, and twice displaying in the air over their heads!! Pretty cool!

Canadian Goose

Beaver Lodge
Waterfalls

My husband and I are going back to Broadmoor tonight for a lecture on Solar Heating, which we are considering as a future enhancement for our house. (We have a lot of work to do to get the interior of the house in a habitable and healthy condition first, of course!) If I leave with a good understanding of the solar heating requirements and benefits, I'll post about it tomorrow.