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.
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.
I always enjoy seeing Redheads.
Blue-winged Teal are much smaller than the others.
The big surprise was finding the smallest duck species in North America: the Ruddy Duck.
Some botany:
MYSTERY BIRD
The oversize beak identifies this as a Northern Shoveler.
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
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!