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Two very different duck species with a common tail structure. Long-tailed Ducks are sea ducks that dive for invertebrates and small fish. The males have long thin tail feathers. Northern Pintails, on the other hand, are fresh water ducks that dabble for plants, worms, snails, insects and crustaceans. Like the Long-tailed Duck, the males sportContinue reading “Snapshots: Duck Tails”

I saw many Common Gallinules and American Coots on a Florida trip. They always seemed to peacefully coexist except in this case. This Gallinule took exception to the Coot for some reason and the Coot beat a quick retreat.

We do not see Horned Grebes in their breeding plumage here in Massachusetts very often. Those yellow-orange tufts are the source of their name.

This is an interesting combination. The male on the left is a Greater Scaup, but the female is a Lesser Scaup. The shape of the head is the primary marker. There were several individuals of both species in the water so this is likely just a coincidental meeting and not a “rendezvous”. Both species areContinue reading “Snapshot: Scaup”

From July 2021: a Least Tern parent checks on a youngster upon returning to the nesting area.

I had to go completely manual to capture this Woodcock as it foraged in the undergrowth. The thick cluster of branches pretty much foiled the autofocus. It was doing its well known bobbing “dance” by the way.

Snowy Owls often visit Massachusetts in the winter. They are creatures of the tundra and like treeless open spaces so they look for a similar environment while here. This female or young male is resting in an open salt marsh in the Parker River NWR. They also like the open space next to Logan InternationalContinue reading “Snapshot: Snowy Owl”

Pair of Mallards flying together.

This was buried deep in the files. Great Horned Owls are often heard at night near my home but are rarely seen during the day. This photo was taken 10 years ago when some Ravens flushed this Owl. I grabbed my camera for a quick shot before he flew further into the woods to escapeContinue reading “Found in the Clutter: Great Horned Owl”

This in-flight photo of a Black-bellied Whistling Duck shows all the markings for this colorful duck. There are the pink-red bill, long pink legs, gray face, chestnut body, black belly and big white wing patches. The head is held low while flying, giving the duck a kinked look.