Teal pix
November 2nd, 2010
A rare pleasure: Green-Winged Teal at Stony Swamp! Seemed a good reason to pull my camera out after an extended break.
I only ever see these guys in their fall migration--and then, often, in drab plumage, because the males are late coming out of eclipse. But now they're finished, with their chestnut-brown heads and glittering green cheek stripes. A small number of them have been on the marsh at Jack Pine Trail mingling with the resident mallards. They're not as bold as the mallards, but they're not terribly shy either. If you stand quietly on the boardwalk, they'll eventually swim out into plain view.
The mallards were exuberant today, zipping and splashing around in a big preen-o-rama. Here, one of the teal gets into the act.
Size comparison with female mallard:
November 2nd, 2010
A rare pleasure: Green-Winged Teal at Stony Swamp! Seemed a good reason to pull my camera out after an extended break.
I only ever see these guys in their fall migration--and then, often, in drab plumage, because the males are late coming out of eclipse. But now they're finished, with their chestnut-brown heads and glittering green cheek stripes. A small number of them have been on the marsh at Jack Pine Trail mingling with the resident mallards. They're not as bold as the mallards, but they're not terribly shy either. If you stand quietly on the boardwalk, they'll eventually swim out into plain view.
The mallards were exuberant today, zipping and splashing around in a big preen-o-rama. Here, one of the teal gets into the act.
Size comparison with female mallard:
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Mike
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I like #4... feels energetic!