• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Tony's Takes Photography

Wildlife, landscape and weather photography

  • Home
  • Top Shots
  • Latest News & Images
  • Purchase Prints
  • Photo Books
  • Calendars
  • Contact
  • About Tony

LBB roundup: Goldeneye to yellowlegs

April 12, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

LBB roundup: Goldeneye to yellowlegs
A northern flicker takes a break from pecking at a dead tree. (Tony’s Takes)

As I have said many times, I don’t normally take pictures of “little birds,” what I call almost any non-raptor bird. However, when the opportunity presents itself, I will snap an image of one every now and then.

There are so many smaller birds, I have a heck of a time identifying them and usually rely on friends to help me out. One friend calls these little ones he can’t identify, “LBBs” – Little Brown Birds. That keeps it simple and is oftentimes descriptive. 😉

Here is a look at some of the non-raptor birds that I have photographed in recent weeks.

A greater yellowlegs along the South Platte River. (Tony's Takes)
A greater yellowlegs along the South Platte River. (Tony’s Takes)
A house sparrow awaits its turn at the feeder. (Tony's Takes)
A house sparrow awaits its turn at the feeder. (Tony’s Takes)
A common merganser on a pond in Thornton, Colorado. (Tony's Takes)
A common merganser on a pond in Thornton, Colorado. (Tony’s Takes)
A common goldeneye swimming on a pond. (Tony's Takes)
A common goldeneye swimming on a pond. (Tony’s Takes)
A wet American coot on a pond. (Tony's Takes)
A wet American coot on a pond. (Tony’s Takes)
A belted kingfisher hanging out. (Tony's Takes)
A belted kingfisher hanging out. (Tony’s Takes)
A white crowned sparrow in Colorado. (Tony's Takes)
A white crowned sparrow in Colorado. (Tony’s Takes)

Hooded merganser catches, flips, eats a crawdad

April 6, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

A young female hooded merganser catches a crawdad. (© Tony's Takes)
A young female hooded merganser catches a crawdad. (© Tony’s Takes)

This is a fun little sequence, be sure to scroll through to see the series of images.

At a local pond this past Sunday, there were about a dozen juvenile hooded mergansers swimming around. They kept their distance but did provide a fun photo opportunity.

In particular, this young female, put on a nice show. She dives, caught a crawdad, flipped it in the air to properly align it with her throat and then…down the hatch, all in one! I’ve seen many pictures of these ducks doing this and while my pics aren’t anything great (she was a long way away), it was fun to finally capture some of my own.

A young female hooded merganser catches a crawdad. (© Tony's Takes)
A young female hooded merganser catches a crawdad. (© Tony’s Takes)
Hooded merganser catches, flips, eats a crawdad
A young female hooded merganser catches a crawdad. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young female hooded merganser catches a crawdad. (© Tony's Takes)
A young female hooded merganser catches a crawdad. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young female hooded merganser catches a crawdad. (© Tony's Takes)
A young female hooded merganser catches a crawdad. (© Tony’s Takes)

Bride of Frankenstein ducks take to the water

January 11, 2021 by Tony Leave a Comment

Bride of Frankenstein ducks take to the water
A female hooded merganser swims on a pond in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

I dunno, there is something about female hooded mergansers that just really reminds me of the title character in that 1935 horror flick. That crest on the top of the head really looks like the hairdo of Elsa Lanchester in the film. Yeah, I know, I am a little weird sometimes. They are, though, beautiful birds and lots of fun to watch.

A female hooded merganser swims on a pond in Colorado. (© Tony's Takes)
A female hooded merganser swims on a pond in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A female hooded merganser swims on a pond in Colorado. (© Tony's Takes)
A female hooded merganser swims on a pond in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Male hooded mergansers strutting around the pond

December 30, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

Male hooded mergansers strutting around the pond
A male hooded merganser out for a swim in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Now these are some pretty good looking #ducks. I had heard a bunch of them were hanging out at a suburban pond, catching crawdads off the bottom. While I was there, they made dozens of dives but, unfortunately, all came back empty-handed. Nevertheless, they looked quite handsome with their crest and beautiful plumage.

A male hooded merganser out for a swim in Colorado. (© Tony's Takes)
A male hooded merganser out for a swim in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A male hooded merganser out for a swim in Colorado. (© Tony's Takes)
A male hooded merganser out for a swim in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Hooded merganser out for a swim

November 30, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

Hooded merganser out for a swim
A male hooded merganser swims on a quiet pond. (© Tony’s Takes)

Check out this handsome fellow. I don’t usually have the patience to photograph ducks as they are just too skittish and I am not one to sit and wait for them to come to me.

One evening last week I stopped by an area open space for a walk and while watching the various birds at the pond, I got lucky and this guy and his mate happened by. It was a pretty long shot and toward the sun and while not great, it is probably the best picture of one of them I have ever gotten.

Hooded merganser males are definitely cool with the bright, white crest that they can raise or lower. I just wish they weren’t so scared of me. 😉 

Mama mallard struts when showing off her ducklings

May 28, 2020 by Tony Leave a Comment

Mama mallard struts when showing off her ducklings
A mallard hen takes her ducklings for a walk. (© Tony’s Takes)

This was one proud mom! She was kind enough to bring her five #ducklings out for a bit of a parade recently. Four did a good job staying in front where she could watch them. That fifth, well, it was consistently lagging behind lollygagging.  😉

Wood duck reflections on a golden pond

October 26, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

Wood duck reflections on a golden pond
A wood duck drake moves across a pond with its reflection and the reflection of fall colors on the water’s surface. (© Tony’s Takes)

This is the only time of year and the only type of duck that I will dedicate myself to photographing.

Wood duck drakes are extraordinarily handsome and in the fall, the reflections of golden leaves on the water create some cool captures.

Last Saturday I spent a couple hours with these guys and took a ridiculous number of pictures of “just ducks.” They are a far cry from the raptors that I normally photograph but it was well worth the time.

A wood duck drake moves across a pond with its reflection and the reflection of fall colors on the water's surface. (© Tony’s Takes)
A wood duck drake moves across a pond with its reflection and the reflection of fall colors on the water’s surface. (© Tony’s Takes)

Wood duck out for a walk

October 13, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

Wood duck out for a walk
A wood duck out for a walk in Littleton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

There are few ducks more beautiful than these guys. The wood duck drake is extraordinarily colored and arguably the most colorful bird we see here in Colorado.

They are not as common as other ducks here and they are, generally, a bit skittish. However, there is a suburban park south of Denver where they are known to hang out and they have become quite accustomed to people.

I stopped by yesterday on my way home from my photo shoot and paid them a quick visit. Most of them were content to sleep on a little island in the pond but this guy came out and went for a walk giving me some nice pics.

A wood duck out for a walk in Littleton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A wood duck out for a walk in Littleton, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Northern shovelers take flight in the snow

April 13, 2019 by Tony Leave a Comment

Northern shovelers take flight in the snow
Northern shoveler ducks take flight in the snow in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Not the greatest of weather for photography this morning here in Colorado but it did make for some neat captures. I snapped these ducks as they flew by at the Adams County Fair and Regional Park Complex during a snow squall.

Northern Shoveler in flight over the South Platte River

February 3, 2019 by Tony

Northern Shoveler in flight over the South Platte River
A male northern shoveler flies above the South Platte River in Adams County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Here is a type of bird you don’t see me take many pics of. I just don’t have the patience to photograph ducks. They are usually quite skittish and I’m not willing to sit and wait for them to come close. Yesterday I got lucky when this handsome fellow flew right by me, giving me a nice capture.

  • Go to page 1
  • Go to page 2
  • Go to page 3
  • Go to page 4
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

Connect With Me

Tony's Takes on Facebook Tony's Takes on Twitter Tony's Takes RSS Feed

Recent News & Images

  • Sunspot, baby!
  • Mule deer chills out, gives a smile
  • Moonset above the snow-covered Rocky Mountains
  • Cool Cooper’s
  • Video: Fox kits play a game of chase

Photo Use Information

All photos © Tony’s Takes. Images are available for purchase as prints or as digital files for other uses. Please don’t steal; my prices aren’t expensive. For more information contact me here.

Galleries

  • Exhibits
  • In the City
  • In the News
  • Landscapes
  • Pets
  • Random Stuff
  • Sun, Moon and Stars
  • Transportation
  • Weather
  • Wildlife

Archives

Search

Tags

American Kestrel Astrophotography Bald Eagle Bear Bighorn Sheep Bison Burrowing Owl Canada Goose Clouds Coyote Deer Duck Elk Fall Colors Ferruginous Hawk Flowers Fox Golden Eagle Great Blue Heron Great Horned Owl Hummingbird Marmot Military Moon Moose Mountain Goat Mountains Northern Harrier Osprey Pelican Pika Prairie Dog Prairie Falcon Pronghorn Rabbit Red Tailed Hawk Snowy Egret Squirrel Sunrise Sunset Swainson’s Hawk Thunderstorm Turkey Turkey Vulture Video

Footer

Connect With Me

Tony's Takes on Facebook Tony's Takes on Twitter Tony's Takes RSS Feed

Search

Photo Use

All photos © Tony’s Takes. Images are available for purchase as prints or as digital files for other uses. Please don’t steal; my prices aren’t expensive and I will work with you to get you the art you desire. For more information contact me here.

Latest

  • Sunspot, baby!
  • Mule deer chills out, gives a smile
  • Moonset above the snow-covered Rocky Mountains
  • Cool Cooper’s
  • Video: Fox kits play a game of chase
Copyright © 2023 Tony's Takes Photography
  • Home
  • Latest News & Images
  • Purchase Prints
  • Photo Books
  • Calendars
  • Contact
  • About Tony