I birded parts of the Milwaukee County lakefront today and the highlight of the day was my first stop at Bender Park. I saw the report from Dave G yesterday of the adult Long-tailed Duck at the park and the duck was still present today, thanks Dave! It gave nice views in the early morning sun, diving for food, preening and just relaxing while I was there. Shortly after arriving 3 fishing rigs came into the boat launch area and the duck moved towards the open water. Other areas I checked along the lake showed few ducks and gulls. Some areas had displaying Red-winged Blackbirds but that was about it. The ice in the lagoon at Lakeshore State Park was shrinking fast and they were ice fishing there yesterday! Images were taken on March 7, 2016.
Long-tailed Duck
Binomial name: Clangula hyemalis
Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Size: 16.5” long, 28” wing span
Weight: 1.6 lb
Cool Fact: This duck was once known as Oldsquaw
The dive!
The dive!
The dive!
The dive!
The tail!
Preening
Preening that long tail!
Preening that long tail!
The drop!
The drip!
The long tail!
Just relaxing…
Great shots of this beautiful duck’s tell-tale tail.
What a treat! Thanks for sharing.
Awesome Jim. That is one beautiful duck. Thanks, as always, for sharing.
Niiiiccce, Jim – you never fail to deliver. Great pix!! TFS
Beautiful captures Jim!
Never realized these ducks could be so attractive.
EXCELLENT!! Love the preening shots especially!
Great shots of a cool bird.
Sensational photos!! There are several you should enter in national photo contests – like Audubon’s – seriously!!
My son Shawn Miller visited with you last week at some county ponds near Columbia County last week and he’s also a huge fan of your photos.
His e-mail address is: 608shawnmiller@gmail.com
I would like to have you post your photos to my e mail address listed below. I also enjoy your other wildlife photos!!
Jim – I’m right in the water w/this remarkable creature who looks rather like a puppy dog w/floppy ears and furry head. Then the preening begins, the bill becomes the prominent form and color, and that exquisite tail reveals itself! A quick dive and the puppy/duck is gone – creating a beautiful fountain above the water! Absolutely beyond belief is the face looking squarely at the camera. The photographer has fallen in love w/this little duck – and so have I. It’s enough to make us flip – glad you didn’t, Jim!