Camera Critters #210

During a recent visit to Fireman’s Pond in Redmond, Oregon, I was able to photograph one of my favorite waterfowl species.

Personally, I call them Daffy Ducks because of their extremely large bills, but most people know them as Northern Shoveler, or Anas clypeata.

The shoveler is the duck in the foreground.  Behind it is a non-breeding plumage American Wigeon.

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.

Camera Critters #192

I may get a lot of flak by saying this, but the Mud Hen is one ugly bird.

Also known as the American Coot, this blackish bird with a white bill is easy to identify when seen.  Although primarily a waterfowl, it isn’t in the duck family.  It's closest relatives are rails, which are marsh birds.

I see Coots all the time.  In the water, they appear rather graceful (although still ugly), but on land…well, I think the phrase “Duck out of water” was coined after first seeing this bird waddle around.

Enough of their story…8v)  It’s time to show off my better images of the old coots.

Coot feeding young

Coot feeding on pond-weed

Misty Dawn’s Camera Critter Meme is a great way see critters the world over. Go to the homepage here to see more. Then join the fun and add your own.