Not so Common Eiders

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?

Red-breasted Merganser - LIFE-LISTER from Cape Cod

Pete drove me down the cape to go birding yesterday - my first time out in 5 weeks! He even drove me from place to place so I hardly had to walk. What a great son, right? Anyway, guess what I got at our very first stop? A pair of Red-breasted Mergansers! A new species for my lifelist! These two Mergansers were right on the Cape Cod Canal. Isn't he beautiful? Today every bone in my body hurts, but it was WAY worth it!


I love how this female's bright orange bill (which is also serrated, by the way!) is shining in the sun. She seems to be posing!


This is the photo I am most proud of because my mentor and friend, vidterry, said it was 'The best action shot of a Merganser' he's ever seen. Terry is the best photographer I know, so I am so proud I could pop! In fact, I'm grinning so much my face hurts!


Yesterday was like a gift from the universe to compensate for all the problems engulfing my life these days. The weather was perfect, and I got to see many of the winter ducks I've been hoping for. To tell the truth, I thought the Red-breasted Merganser males were much more attractive than I had expected. Much prettier than Common Mergansers (I know. Shame on me for being sentimental and superficial. Sorry.)


I love this picture, too. This is after he ate the fish, and he looks very pleased with himself. In fact, he appears to be grinning with delight, doesn't he?

How to Poison Yourself AND More Arizona Birds

How to Poison Yourself Without Really Trying
(for those who missed the comment on the previous post or the status update on facebook):

Spend a few weeks cutting up metal foil, metallic paper, metallic Mylar, etc., with four huge Ionic Breezes running constantly. Minuscule metal molecules will spin around the room in an invisible maelstrom that will cut through eyes and skin like butter. (Obviously, you'll be breathing in the stuff, as well.) Make sure there is adhesive on every piece of metal foil so your skin and lungs will be saturated with waterproof, permanent glue. Finish by decorating everything with metallic markers containing xylene, a toxic solvent.

That's how I poisoned myself, anyway.

P.S. I'm planning on going birding for the first time this year tomorrow. Since I still can't see, I'm hoping my son will be my photographer. I'm hoping desperately that all goes well, but in the meantime I have more of my son's Arizona Birds to show everyone!


More Arizona birds photographed by P. Wrublewski. This Pied-billed Grebe is one of the cutest birds I've never seen!


Another view of the Pied-billed Grebe.


Here's an awesome pic from a series of a hunting Green Heron.


The raised crest makes it look like a different bird altogether!