I learn something every day. This morning we had a group of Gadwall who appeared to be having a great time with lots of whistling noises and dashing about.
Male Gadwall are grayish with a black rear end.
You can see in the photos that these males have a “puffy” head.
A glance at Sibley Birds informed me that adult breeding males have this puffy look from September until May. That was news to me.
Other birds:
Park scenes:
Today’s group:
Some botany:
NATURE POETRY
Press’d by the Moon, mute arbitress of tides,
While the loud equinox its pow’r combines,
The sea no more its swelling surge confines,
But o’er the shrinking land sublimely rides. – Charlotte Smith (1749–1806)
Miles Hearn