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.

The mood at the pond really went downhill this afternoon when Fred the Flasher arrived. 😉

Male Northern Shoveler ?ducks? at a pond in Thornton, Colorado, USA.?

Wood Ducks are probably the coolest looking water fowl I have ever seen. The male, seen here, is so colorful it is hard to imagine. Females, while more subdued, are beautiful in their own right. This male had just dives under water in search of a snack and when he popped up, began vigorously flapping his wings to dry off.

With as common as Mallard ducks are, I don’t normally train my lens on them but sometimes I can’t resist. The lighting was soft and pleasant on this day and the partly cloudy skies made the water look like silver. Throw in this fine looking drake with his brilliant green head and it made for a nice picture. I am always amazed at how fine and detailed feathers on ducks are and this image really shows them off.

A Northern Shoveler utilizes the infamous ‘Stand on one leg and hide your face’ camouflage tactic. Didn’t work so well. 😉

A male Hooded ?Merganser? comes in for a landing on the South Platte River. These small ?#?ducks? are best known for the sizeable crest on top of their heads. This particular guy had just touched down on the South Platte River near ??Denver? when I snapped the picture.

I walked along the South Platte River this morning and despite the cruddy overcast skies making for bad lighting, I did find a few good photo subjects. This Northern Pintail duck was hanging out along with some of his friends.

Male Northern Shoveler

Male Pintail Duck Swims on the River

Female Hooded Merganser

Female Hooded Mergansers

Hooded Merganser Makes a Landing

Bald Eagle Surveys the Area

Golden Eye Ducks

Serious Looking Bison

Prancing Deer

I’m not normally one to take pictures of water fowl but Wood Ducks are just pretty darned cool. This handsome guy was hanging out in a Denver area pond back in October. The coloring is just brilliant on these birds.

During the long holiday weekend I swung by a popular spot where these handsome birds hang out.  Most were out of reach but this one and his mate were hanging out close and allowed me to snap a few pics.  Gorgeous looking birds for sure and the reflection of the clouds and spots of blue sky made the water look almost metallic.

View more pictures from the day this image was taken below.

A hawk keeps watch for its prey

A hawk keeps watch for its prey

Mallard duck

Mallard drake close up

A beautiful wood duck drake

A beautiful wood duck drake

Female wood duck close up

Wood duck drake close up

An American Coot

Close up of an American Coot

A bald eagle keeps watch

What are you looking at?

Bald eagle

Bald eagle looking serious

Bald eagle keeping an eye on the horizon

Majestic bald eagle

Bald eagle looks below

The eagle eye keeps watch

I don’t normally train my camera on these common ducks but yesterday I couldn’t resist. The male mallard’s brilliant coloring coupled with the reflections of sky and clouds on a pond looked pretty neat.