My first stop of the day was in downtown Waukesha at the Fox River just north of the dam. Four Ruddy Ducks, 3 males and one female have been hanging around the last couple of days. They were moving around a lot and at times would be following the female around. They dove a little at times feeding. A Common Loon was also present but remained in the middle of the river to the north. It stayed low in the water the time I was there as once in awhile Mallards and Ring-billed Gulls harassed it lightly. It did do a little feeding at times. A mostly cloudy day with a stiff wind from the northwest temps around 30 degrees, still felt like winter with 5″ of snow on the ground. Images were taken on April 18, 2018.
Ruddy Duck, the stunning male with it’s blue bill in breeding plumage…
Ruddy Duck
Binomial name: Oxyura jamaicensis
Category: Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Size: 15” long, 18.5” wingspan
Weight: 1.2 Lb
Ruddy Duck, female
Ruddy Ducks, male front and female
Ruddy Ducks, the males chasing the female…
Tail up, sign of courtship display…
The mouth open…
Pair of males…
Coming in to shore following the female…
Full speed ahead following the female…
