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Formation flying ducks

March 14, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

A nice walk along the South Platte River north of Denver, Colorado and the waterfowl was quite abundant. As usual they didn’t care too much to pose for me but I grabbed a couple pics as they flew by. I’m not sure what kind of ducks the first pair are. The second are Mallards though.

Two ducks fly in formation along the South Platte River. (© Tony’s Takes)
Two ducks fly in formation along the South Platte River. (© Tony’s Takes)

Merganser swims right by

March 4, 2018 by Tony Leave a Comment

I don’t normally take pictures of ducks as most tend to be quite skittish and I don’t have the patience to do the work required to get close. Yesterday however, this male Common Merganser swam right by where I was sitting on the shore of a pond. He looked pretty darned cool so I of course had to take a few pics of him.

A male Common Merganser duck on a pond in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
A male Common Merganser duck on a pond in Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Wood Duck drake on golden water

October 19, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

Water fowl rarely draw the attention of my camera but the one exception that will always have me clicking are Wood Ducks. Their iridescent, colorful plumage is simply too beautiful to ignore. There is pond in the southern suburbs of Denver where they make an appearance every fall. I haven’t been there in a couple years and am long overdue to pay them a visit. This image was taken in October 2014.

A Wood Duck drake goes for a swim in waters colored yellow by the leaves above. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck drake goes for a swim in waters colored yellow by the leaves above. (© Tony’s Takes)

Ducks take to the trees

April 26, 2017 by Tony Leave a Comment

Ducks take to the trees. It isn’t too often you see a duck hanging out in the tree but here you go. Wood Ducks are a bit different from most waterfowl is that they do actually perch and nest in trees. While I have photographed them before, it has always been in a more traditional setting like swimming on a pond.

On Sunday while hanging out along the South Platte River I noticed a number of these guys flying around and landing in the trees. It certainly seemed out of place. The terrain prevented me from getting a better look but I managed a few, distant captures.

These images don’t do a good job showing it but Wood Ducks, particularly the drakes (males), truly are some of the most colorful ducks you can imagine.

A pair of Wood Ducks hang out in the trees along the South Platte River.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A pair of Wood Ducks hang out in the trees along the South Platte River. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck drake hangs out in the trees along the South Platte River.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck drake hangs out in the trees along the South Platte River. (© Tony’s Takes)
A pair of Wood Ducks hang out in the trees along the South Platte River.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A pair of Wood Ducks hang out in the trees along the South Platte River. (© Tony’s Takes)
A pair of Wood Ducks and a Starling hang out in the trees along the South Platte River.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A pair of Wood Ducks and a Starling hang out in the trees along the South Platte River. (© Tony’s Takes)

Wood Ducks wow

November 16, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

Water fowl rarely draw the attention of my camera but the one exception that will always have me clicking are Wood Ducks. Their iridescent, colorful plumage is simply too beautiful to ignore. These images are a sampling of those I took while watching them at Sterne Park in Littleton, Colorado a few weeks ago. The males, pictured here, draw most of the attention although females are pretty in their own right.

You can read more about these cool ducks here.

A Wood Duck druck looks resplendent in all its colors. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck druck looks resplendent in all its colors. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck druck looks resplendent in all its colors. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck druck looks resplendent in all its colors. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck druck looks resplendent in all its colors. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck druck looks resplendent in all its colors. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck druck looks resplendent in all its colors. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck druck looks resplendent in all its colors. (© Tony’s Takes)

Wood Duck smiles for its portrait

November 3, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

I am not one to normally seek out ducks for pictures but when these colorful creatures come to town, I do my best to pay them a visit. Wood Ducks visit a park south of Denver each fall for a few weeks and yesterday I had the opportunity.

They are extraordinarily beautiful and one of the most colorful waterfowl, especially the male pictured here. Females’ coloring is quite a bit more subdued but still beautiful in their own right. Wood Ducks are one of the few waterfowl that actually are comfortable nesting and perching in trees.

A Wood Duck drake seems to smile as its picture is taken.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Wood Duck drake seems to smile as its picture is taken. (© Tony’s Takes)

Female Wood Duck reflections

October 24, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

There is a little park in a suburb of Denver where Wood ?Ducks? are known to frequent. I took a quick trip down there yesterday afternoon and unfortunately there weren’t many to be found – in fact only this one.

While she was quite beautiful, I really was hoping to get some images of the males as they are amazing and it has been a year since I have captured images of any. Nevertheless, as always, it was great just to get out and take some pics.

A female Wood Duck swims in a pond in suburban Denver. (© Tony’s Takes)
A female Wood Duck swims in a pond in suburban Denver. (© Tony’s Takes)

Elk calf really wants to play with a duck

September 29, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

This was a lot of fun to watch. This calf was wading in a pond when a duck arrived to go for a swim. The little guy (or gal) was quite fascinated by the feathered creature and waded in further to try to get a sniff. The duck however didn’t care too much for the large, furry mammal and swam off leaving the calf without a friend.

Taken in Horseshoe Park in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado. ?

A young Elk wants to make friends with a duck as it swims by. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young Elk wants to make friends with a duck as it swims by. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young Elk wants to make friends with a duck as it swims by. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young Elk wants to make friends with a duck as it swims by. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young Elk wants to make friends with a duck as it swims by. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young Elk wants to make friends with a duck as it swims by. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young Elk wants to make friends with a duck as it swims by. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young Elk wants to make friends with a duck as it swims by. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young Elk wants to make friends with a duck as it swims by. (© Tony’s Takes)
A young Elk wants to make friends with a duck as it swims by. (© Tony’s Takes)

Young Mallards go out for a morning swim

August 5, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

This is half of a brood of juvenile Mallard Ducks that was swimming across a pond this past weekend. While not ducklings anymore, they are still pretty darned cute and the one raising its head seemed to be showing off for the camera.

Juvenile Mallard Ducks enjoy a swim on a pond in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)
Juvenile Mallard Ducks enjoy a swim on a pond in Boulder County, Colorado. (© Tony’s Takes)

Mallards pay a surprise visit

April 27, 2015 by Tony Leave a Comment

Well, this was a bit of a surprise. I have a basic backyard bird feeder with safflower feed. To date haven’t seen much beyond house finches and doves.

Last week, after I left for work, my kids said there were two ducks in the yard. Yesterday, the pair stopped by briefly in the rain but I didn’t have time to grab my camera. Tonight, they came again and hung out for 15 minutes or so and I was able to sit out on the porch and take some pics.

They ate some of the seed that had fallen into the grass, waddled around, and then took off. It was already pretty dark thanks to the clouds and evening sun (or lack thereof) so the pics aren’t all that great. No water to speak of near me in suburbia so I’m not sure why they have chosen my backyard. Guess they just like the seed. 😉 Lots of fun to watch although my dogs weren’t too happy with the guests.

A Mallard drake and hen hang out in the grass of a suburban yard. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Mallard drake and hen hang out in the grass of a suburban yard. (© Tony’s Takes)
A Mallard hen poses for pictures.  (© Tony’s Takes)
A Mallard hen poses for pictures. (© Tony’s Takes)
Mallard drake walking through the grass.  (© Tony’s Takes)
Mallard drake walking through the grass. (© Tony’s Takes)
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