Excellent essay and images James. The Northern Shoveler is such a unique looking birds. Waterfowl is my weakest area I think in birding identification. That black and white image of the duck swimming to the right is amazing. Is that a Mallard or American Black Duck?
Thank you, Neil. Waterfowl is challenging but I personally find it very rewarding. For that black and white photo I’ll say Black Duck, but one thing that keeps me coming back to waterfowl ID is how easily and readily it can humble you haha.
Thank you for this fascinating post, James. I feel like I went on a field trip. I love watching ducks and am fortunate to see a lot of them where I live. The Northern Shovelers are so unusual and incredible, almost prehistoric looking and a great example of form and function, Spatula clypeata. Your photo series is outstanding and I especially appreciate the diving photo, it’s a little mysterious and left to the imagination as to who might surface.
Excellent piece, James, and thanks so much for linking to my essay! It's so true - you wouldn't expect ducks to have much in common with maple syrup, but the accessibility + intricacies equation applies across the board!
Beautiful photography, as well - I honestly appreciate that you've included images of "this is what it usually looks like when you bird for ducks." I have so many pictures of blurry duck-butts disappearing underwater that still serve their purpose to remind me of how wonderful that particular duck was just as I pressed the button :)
I was a bit saddened to hear that "Most people don’t find ducks interesting" - who are these people? What strange condition has left them blind to the charms of ducks? I hope they find a cure 🤣
Duck photos are often strictly utilitarian! But still beautiful, and they always immortalize the special feeling of the encounter. That exact duck moment. It’s a broad spectrum. I didn’t know I’d seen a Harlequin Duck one time until I reviewed the photos. “Black scoter, surf, black, white-winged…wait, hold on!”
Same here! Sometimes I snap a photo and zoom way in for an identifiable pattern to figure out what I’m looking at - and I still get excited about whatever I “saw”!🤣
Thank you, Perry! I agree it seems like they are having conversations as they interact. I just spent some time watching a large group of Black-bellied Whistling-ducks and they seemed 1: very chatty, and 2: enthusiastically mingling with each other.
Excellent essay and images James. The Northern Shoveler is such a unique looking birds. Waterfowl is my weakest area I think in birding identification. That black and white image of the duck swimming to the right is amazing. Is that a Mallard or American Black Duck?
Thank you, Neil. Waterfowl is challenging but I personally find it very rewarding. For that black and white photo I’ll say Black Duck, but one thing that keeps me coming back to waterfowl ID is how easily and readily it can humble you haha.
Thank you for this fascinating post, James. I feel like I went on a field trip. I love watching ducks and am fortunate to see a lot of them where I live. The Northern Shovelers are so unusual and incredible, almost prehistoric looking and a great example of form and function, Spatula clypeata. Your photo series is outstanding and I especially appreciate the diving photo, it’s a little mysterious and left to the imagination as to who might surface.
Thank you for reading and for your feedback, Heidi! Northern Shovelers are maybe the most interesting of all the birds I’ve ever seen.
They really are wild looking! Thanks, James!
Excellent piece, James, and thanks so much for linking to my essay! It's so true - you wouldn't expect ducks to have much in common with maple syrup, but the accessibility + intricacies equation applies across the board!
Beautiful photography, as well - I honestly appreciate that you've included images of "this is what it usually looks like when you bird for ducks." I have so many pictures of blurry duck-butts disappearing underwater that still serve their purpose to remind me of how wonderful that particular duck was just as I pressed the button :)
I was a bit saddened to hear that "Most people don’t find ducks interesting" - who are these people? What strange condition has left them blind to the charms of ducks? I hope they find a cure 🤣
Duck photos are often strictly utilitarian! But still beautiful, and they always immortalize the special feeling of the encounter. That exact duck moment. It’s a broad spectrum. I didn’t know I’d seen a Harlequin Duck one time until I reviewed the photos. “Black scoter, surf, black, white-winged…wait, hold on!”
Same here! Sometimes I snap a photo and zoom way in for an identifiable pattern to figure out what I’m looking at - and I still get excited about whatever I “saw”!🤣
Sometimes that’s what it takes in order to fully recognize identifiable intricacies!
I love the mute swan, dare I ask what your option is?
Typing it out makes me feel like a downer! They are pretty birds.
They are beautiful and mystical and I know they are not native and not great for the natural habitats here. But I do love them.
Love your structure. Refreshing invigorating photos. Superb ❤️
Thank you, Paolo!
Thank you, Perry! I agree it seems like they are having conversations as they interact. I just spent some time watching a large group of Black-bellied Whistling-ducks and they seemed 1: very chatty, and 2: enthusiastically mingling with each other.