This Common Eider is the same species I nicknamed Ugly Duck this past summer. As you can see, he is clearly NOT an ugly duck now! In fact, I've rarely seen such an unusual and striking looking species in my life!
In this picture, you get a better view of his very unique nose(?)
Three gorgeous males and an attractive female Common Eider.
The very dark colored Common Eider on the far left is a juvenile. He is very similar to our little ugly duck, but much larger. It takes a few years for these ducks to have adult plumage. This is also a species that has an eclipse plumage every fall.
A few Red-breasted Mergansers were hanging with this flock of Common Eiders. The two species didn't appear especially friendly towards each other, but they all stayed pretty close to each other. Safety in numbers, maybe?
I love the bills on these ducks (the coloring and the shape). They are gorgeous... I've never seen one in person.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kelly. Thanks, also, for your concern about my health problems. I'm going to an Environmental Health specialist tomorrow, and hopefully I'll hear that this is curable. Keep your fingers crossed!
ReplyDeleteI hope everything goes well tomorrow. Make sure to let us know. Take care.
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