Showing posts with label Greater Scaup. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greater Scaup. Show all posts

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Winter Ducks at Great Salt Lake - I.


 

That early winter morning at the Great Salt Lake was full of surprises.  I didn't expect to find such a diverse selection of ducks and felt lost at the beginning. 

Photographing the ducks I have never seen before was thrilling but later I had to identify them.  Looking closely at the ducks heads, eyes, bills and tails I often couldn't tell apart one duck from another and at some point even thought about taking a course online to learn more about ducks.

I believe that on the photo above two ducks with dark brown heads are Great Scaups.  Their heads are more rounded and have the peaks, their bills are slightly curvy.  Lesser Scaups have a taller and narrower head and more straight-sided bill. 








The Greater Scaup is landing.








The Northern Pintail is leading its followers. 










The adult breeding Greater Scaup.







Another Greater Scaup.


I see often entire flocks of ducks flying in and out and over the water but to identify them is a skill I didn't reached yet.  Hopefully, some day I will be better at it.

Generally, life is good!