Five Duck Species in a Québec Pond

I had a look at a pond maintained by Ducks Unlimited and was surprised by some of the occupants.

Mallards, of course, are no surprise.

Mallard (female)
Mallard (female)
Mallard (female)
Mallard (female)

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Finding Gadwall was a surprise as this is a largely western species which appears here and there in summer in the east.

Gadwall (female)
Gadwall (female)

I always enjoy seeing Redheads.

Redhead (female)
Redheads (male)
Redhead (female)
Redhead (male)
Redhead (male)
Redhead (female)
Redheads

Blue-winged Teal are much smaller than the others.

Redheads (female) with Blue-winged Teal (female) showing size difference
Blue-winged Teal (female)

The big surprise was finding the smallest duck species in North America: the Ruddy Duck.

Ruddy Duck (male)
Ruddy Duck (female)
Ruddy Duck (male)
Ruddy Duck (male)

Some botany:

Common Arrowhead (Sagittaria latifolia)
Shining Willow (Salix lucida)
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Wood Nettle (Laportea canadensis)
Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense)

MYSTERY BIRD

The oversize beak identifies this as a Northern Shoveler.

Northern Shoveler (male)

NATURE POETRY

As water flowing over rocks hidden in the sand,
I felt the cool, as water rolled over my hand.
The country so green, flowers blooming astray,
The contentment feeling, overwhelmed, as I walked away. – Carolyn Langston

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Five Duck Species in a Québec Pond

  1. Lisa Volkov

    I got it! I knew it was a Shoveler! Not the additional specifics of “Northern” and “Male”, but for me, this is a great triumph!
    A wonderful array of ducks! “Ducks Unlimited” is, I believe, the “charitable” (ahem, to both words) “wing” of duck hunters, but so be it, I suppose.
    Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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