With my most recent lifer the Black-Bellied Whistling ducks I am linking up with World Bird Wednesday and Watery Wednesday and Nature Notes . The Black Bellied Whistling duck is common resident of the Gulf coast states. Their habitat is freshwater marshes, swamps and ponds. They nest in tree cavities near the water. I have seen a lot of ducks like the Harlequin and the Long Tailed and they really are beautiful ducks but there is just something about these Black-Bellied Whistling ducks that is just darn cute.
I am not sure if anyone checks on the website Birding on the net but if you are a birder it is an easy way to see what birds are where. I check my state list called Maryland Osprey daily on my emails. But the website Birdingonthenet has an archive list for just about all the states. It might be worth checking the list for your state. You never know when a new bird might show up and one that is not too far away for you to see. Especially if it is a life bird!
The Black-Bellied Whistling ducks showed up in a Baltimore City park days before was able to see them. I was happy they stuck around till the weekend so I could see them. I think these are just the cutest ducks and as far as I know they do not visit Maryland often. There were a total of five of these cute ducks. These three below and two more hidden in the reeds.
The park lake held mostly Mallards and Canada Geese. I guess you never know what might turn up in a city park. The lake has a nice walking trail around it and some of the trail was a boardwalk. As we walk around the lake we saw a Black Crowned Night heron standing in a tree.
Black Crowned Night Heron, the tree was on an island in the middle of the lake.
The lake also had a lot of white waterlilies. Very pretty!
The ducks were still a distance away but my camera was able to zoom up on them some, I was happy with this photo.
I think I got there during their nap time.
To see more wonderful birds and post please visit World Bird Wednesday and Watery Wednesday and Nature Notes. Thanks to Springman of Pine River Review and 2Sweetnsaxy of Watery Wednesday and Michelle of Nature Notes for hosting these fun and great memes. Thanks also for stopping by to see my birds and post. I hope the rest of your week is birdie and wonderful.
62 comments:
I have never seen ducks like that before. We get great blue herons and green herons here but I've not seen the black capped before either.
Eileen,
Last time I saw these ducks I was setting up to photograph them, then all 26 flew up. Thought I'd scared them until I saw the peregrine falcon. KUDOs on the life bird!
You and Squirrel Queen both did posts on these lovelies today!!! I just adore them and am so happy you got to see them! My husband suggested we start a fan club... ha!
That looks like a nice city park. I loved the picture of the night heron. Yes, I think you arrived at naptime .. nice pictures though!
Looks like my favorite ducks flew up your way for the summer. Nice catch.
What a wonderful lifer, Eileen. We have White-faced Whistling Ducks here in Kenya and there is a resemblance to your cute ducks on the photos. And yes, you caught them nappin! Have a great day. Jo
Oooh those ducks are awesome!! I have yet to see one but hopefully someday! The water lilies are beautiful too.. Thanks for sharing!
Another lifer for you-Excellent!
I love your photos of them napping; like you said, they are just darn cute! Thanks for the link for Birding on the net.
Love the Black Crowned Night Heron too!
Thanks for sharing!
Yours is the second blog today that I've encountered Whistling Ducks and I'm still impressed by them - very lovely - and monogamous, too:-)
Beautiful place to walk.
Beautiful images
They are cute, I'd never heard of them until Texwisgirl started to feature them. I like the Black Crowned Night Heron, too. I've seen them here but never close enough for a good shot.
I don't think I've ever seen ducks like these before. Isn't zoom a wonderful thing? :-)
Congrats on the lifer Eileen! Fantastic group of photos! State bird lists are the way to go, I get mine via email and can report sightings.
fantastic shots. i like those new breed of duck that i saw here today.
Great shots of the Black-bellied Whistling Ducks Eileen and congrats on the lifer! It would be a lifer for me too!
I agree these ducks are stunning!! A beautiful post.
A great birding day for you -- and for us -- through your pictures. They are an adorable duck.
Thanks for the link to the site for checking all states; that will be handy for us.
Those ducks are cute!
Fab shots! Love those ducks!
I think their pink legs and feet make them cute. That and napping on one leg. Reminds me, I need a nap, but I think I'll lie down.
— K
Kay, Alberta, Canada
An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
A fascinating series of photos and information!
These ducks looks elegant to me. Beautiful photos to share. Here's my entry. Thanks and see you!
What interesting looking ducks! I love how they stand on one leg :)
The lily pad picture is my favorite! The clarity in your pictures is wonderful.
A great place for a visit Eileen.
Never seen a Black Crowned Night Heron before.
Wonderful shots of the ducks and the Night Heron. The park looks like a great place for birding!
oh my gosh! these photos are fantastic...really!
Love these photos... what beautiful ducks...
The little Whistling Ducks are showing up all over blogdom, I love it. Maybe texwisgirl has the right idea with the fan club. :)
The water lily is gorgeous.
Hi there - I really like ducks! So seeing a new species would always be good. I've not done that in the flesh for a number of years!
Cheers - Stewart M
Those ducks aren't ready to pose for the camera yet. They're busy priming their feathers! Don't click yet... Beautiful photos.
Rosie
All these photos are so wonderful I am unable to pic a favourite.
Beautiful!
Christy
I've never seen these before - but they sure are interesting!
Very enjoying your awesome shots, Eileen...
www.1sthappyfamily.com
delightful birds---i love their color and grace at standing on just one leg.:p
your photos are gorgeous!
Wonderful shots of very cute birds standing on one leg. It had to be beautiful trip!
Wonderful watery Wednesday shots!!
LOVE the ducks!
Great tour Eileen!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Great photos of those special ducks.
Stunning shots! So loveley!
Wish you a great week ... Irene
Nice looking ducks. What a wonderful place to watch the wildlife and enjoy nature!
What a treat! I so love the shot of them peeking over their shoulders! I use to see these in AZ. I remember how excited I got the first time I saw this species which always seemed so exotic to me!
Super captures! It is wonderful that you added another bird to your Life List! What a thrill...huh?:)
Sweet post Eileen! Like you said so well you just never know what your going to see! Thanks for the tip on the web site too. Very interesting!
Wonderful shots. I love the ducks with those long legs and great shot of the heron.
Such a paradise!
Late Visiting for WW, here's my Watery Wednesday. Drop by when you can, thanks!
The whistling ducks are so lovely -- wonderful captures!
Beautiful birds. The ducks have really long legs, I haven't seen that on a duck before.
They are very cute! They look so smooth instead of feathery. :)
I'm happy you got to see them. I'm going to check out a link or two to see what might be near me.
I loved the water lily shot - very pretty.
The Black-Bellied Whistling ducks must indeed be a southern bird as I have never seen them here - not that I'm an expert on ducks! They really are cute!
All the photos are outstanding...love the night heron best tho!!! Wow....great capture. Nothing like being at the right place at the right time. Outstanding!!
Those outsized pink feet are amazing. They must be great swimmers. Congrats on getting to see these ducks and thanks for the info.
beautiful photos
I love the smooth glowy brown color of the ducks
Hi Eileen, I am enthralled by these Whistling Ducks and hope to someday see some in person. Excellent pictures! Have a great day!
hahaha, they look definitely funny
They're soooo cuuuute! =)
These are beautiful shots. I enjoyed the photos so much. Thank you for sharing.
I see what you mean about those whistling ducks Eileen - very smart looking birds.
What amazing captures! The ducks don't even look real. :-) Fantastic!
Another tree cavity nesting duck.. Love that..I too belong to a local list, but I will have to check out the link...
Well the ducks are so pretty in a row..and the cute little fellow above in the tree. I always enjoy lily pads. A lovely spot Eileen-
Hi Eileen -- I think I saw your whistling ducks before and may ohave even commented on this post (we've been on the road and I'm far behind and a little scattered)... anyway, the ducks are wonderful...but even if I've commented before I wanted to tell you that I am absolutely enthralled by your header shot. That is a wonderful picture. Thanks for both the post and for the header.
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