Your Patience Deserves a Duck
Like this Falcated Duck that should be wintering at about this latitude but on the other side of the Pacific.
It seems comfortable in its new role as the main attraction at Colusa Wildlife Refuge.
The new guy isn’t shy or retiring in the least. Lucky for us because this is a stunning bird.
It was often busy teaching the American Wigeons some sort of lesson.
After the chase, it strategically placed a stick between itself and the throng of photographers, then contentedly preened in all its falcated glory.
By the way, thank you for your patience. My Internet drought should be over by Friday. I’m posting by phone right now but soon the daily posts will begin again.
These are the best pix of the falcated duck that I’ve seen. Its breast feathers are where so much of the action is, but most images don’t show them.
January 18, 2012 at 8:59 am
There is a lot going on all over that bird. The iridescent head feathers, the delicate detail on the breast, the merganser-like bill in profile… It doesn’t disappoint from any angle.
January 18, 2012 at 9:22 am
Wow!! What a stunning creature! I’d never have known what it was, thanks for the photos Walter. Is he still at Colusa?
January 18, 2012 at 9:00 am
As far as I know he is still there. He might be in for the winter.
January 18, 2012 at 9:18 am
In Sunday’s San Francisco Chronicle, there is an article about a lone Falcated duck at the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge: Falcated duck at refuge is truly one in a million http://bit.ly/xCdGv1
Love all your pix and captions. I’m learning a lot! Thank you.
January 18, 2012 at 1:44 pm