15 replies to this topic

[Curlybird]

This is probably a no-brainer but thought it would be a little fun to see how many of you know the name of each of these ducks.  I took ALL of these photos this morning, at the same location - I was curious to see how many different duck species were at this place (Bolsa Chica Reserve in So CA).  I didn't include Mallards as they are too easy but they were here also this morning.

Not the greatest shots - it was overcast - but let's see if you know your ducks!  Hopefully the pics aren't too small - you can click and enlarge the photo.

[jetmedix]

I'll give it a try. From top to bottom, left to right: N. Shovelers, Gadwall A. Wigeon, Common Merganser, GW Teal, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, L. Scaup, BW Teal,

Surf Scoter?, N. Pintail, Cinnamon Teal. Had to pull out the guide for some of them.

 

 Curly I wish my duck pics where anywhere near as good as these are!  Seven of these ducks would be lifers for me!

[Curlybird]

You got them all right - you should go to your nearest wildlife reserve/sanctuary - the "winter  visitor" ducks are everywhere right now, and they are usually not too hard to find.  The surf scoter was a little difficult for me, too, when I first saw one (last weekend); the males are easy but the females are more difficult. 

[Aberrant]

The merganser is a red-breasted. Nice compilation by the way.

[Curlybird]

Thanks, Aberrant, and thanks for the correction - I didn't even notice that!

[Bird Whisperer]

I'm happy -- I just met a bunch of ducks this weekend and I could identify at least 3 of these. :)

[YourBirdOasis]

Good shots!  That is a pretty diverse collection of waterfowl photos for a single morning. What is your set up?

 I'll give my IDs in Latin just to be old school.

Anas clypeata, Anas strepera, Anas americana,

Mergus merganser, Anas carolinensis, Bucephala albeola

Oxyura jamaicensis, Aythya affinis, Anas discors,

Melanitta perspicillata, Anas acuta, Anas cyanoptera

[Curlybird]

YourBirdOasis:

Good shots!  That is a pretty diverse collection of waterfowl photos for a single morning. What is your set up?

 I'll give my IDs in Latin just to be old school.

Anas clypeata, Anas strepera, Anas americana,

Mergus merganser, Anas carolinensis, Bucephala albeola

Oxyura jamaicensis, Aythya affinis, Anas discors,

Melanitta perspicillata, Anas acuta, Anas cyanoptera

I'm not sure what you mean by "set up" - it is an ecological reserve, literally across the street (Pacific Coast Hwy) from the Ocean; somehow (I'm not sure how) the ocean water filters into this reserve - it's huge; takes a couple of hours or longer just to walk through the entire reserve.  What I don't understand is how these ducks, only a few of which are sea ducks, can drink sea water - does anyone know the answer to this?  A lot of these ducks (Mallards, American Wigeon, Cinnamon Teal, etc) are dabbling ducks and usually only found in fresh-water habitats - how do they filter the salt out of sea water? 

[Ospr3y]

Nice collection, Curly. Did you take all these in one day?

[Curlybird]

Ospr3y:

Nice collection, Curly. Did you take all these in one day?

All in one MORNING - about 2 hours total!  I have all these as lifers already but wanted to see how many different duck species I could find at one time. 

If you (or anyone reading this) are interested, here's a link to the website of this reserve - if you're ever in So CA, this place is a MUST SEE:     http://bolsachica.org/

[Bird Whisperer]

I've heard many good things about Bolsa Chica, I'm really hoping that I can bird there sometime. Is there any particular season that you recommend I come down in?

[Curlybird]

Right now is the best time (IMO) - all the winter ducks and other birds (eared/horned/western grebes) are here right now.  Spring all the winter visitors are gone but we have babies of the resident birds to see; however, a good portion of the shorebirds nest in a large, fenced-off section where nobody is allowed to go; sometimes you can see the little ones scampering around near the fence but we miss out on all the really good stuff!  If you have a camera with a really good zoom lens you may be able to get some decent baby shots.  I know there have been some really good photos of adults with babies taken by top-notch photographers at this reserve so that's why I'm guessing they have good zoom lenses!  Summer is not very interesting; nothing much happening, but the weather is beautiful that time of year, and it's still a great place to visit no matter what time of year!  If you're ever down this way, let me know, and I'll show you around the great bird spots!

[Bird Whisperer]

Thanks for the tips! I probably won't make it for a long time, but I have a list of places that I want to go, and I mark the best times of year. That way I know when to buy airplane tickets. ;)

[YourBirdOasis]

I was referring to your photography set up.  I remember reading about some research on wild American Black Ducks, Mallards, and F1 generation offspring of a hybrid between the two that looked at their tolerance to salinity. I believe that ducklings in all three groups had a salinity tolerance up to like 2%, above which was fatal to all individuals. Adult tolerance varied among the three groups and was associated with survival and growth rate in offspring subject to lower than fatal salinity. I also understand that the size of the salt gland is directly related to age. So I guess you can say that even typically fresh water ducks have a low tolerance to saline water and that the at your birding spot the concentration must be at least tolerable. Do you know if any of these ducks nest there? That would also tell you something about the nature of the water there.

[Curlybird]

YourBirdOasis:

I was referring to your photography set up.  I remember reading about some research on wild American Black Ducks, Mallards, and F1 generation offspring of a hybrid between the two that looked at their tolerance to salinity. I believe that ducklings in all three groups had a salinity tolerance up to like 2%, above which was fatal to all individuals. Adult tolerance varied among the three groups and was associated with survival and growth rate in offspring subject to lower than fatal salinity. I also understand that the size of the salt gland is directly related to age. So I guess you can say that even typically fresh water ducks have a low tolerance to saline water and that the at your birding spot the concentration must be at least tolerable. Do you know if any of these ducks nest there? That would also tell you something about the nature of the water there.

Thanks for the info -- re: nesting; no, all of these ducks except the mallards (and possibly Cinnamon Teals and a couple of Gadwalls) breed up North (Canada; Washington, etc.); they are only down here during fall/winter.  I wish they were here during breeding season -- I'd love to see the ducklings of some of these species!

[YourBirdOasis]

I suspected that none of these birds are likely to breed there, in fact I'll bet your little littoral body of water is too saline for ducklings most of the time. Perhaps there is a small chance that a pair of Mallards or Rudy Ducks have tried to reproduce there?  Not an impossible occurrence I would imagine.