Winged Wednesday - 09/04/2024

[Douglas Sherman]

I am going to continue with my duck theme while Eric is gone. This time I am going to feature ducks you don't often see.

Mottled Duck: This duck lives in the southeast US and although it looks like a female mallard it has a bright yellow beak and a black area called a gape at the base of the beak

Mandarin Duck: As you might have guessed, this duck is from Asia. It is cherished for its wonderful color and thus is bought as a pet by people in the US. Every one of the birds you see in the US are escapees. I photographed this one and a few others at Lynx Lake in Prescott, AZ

Black -bellied Whistliing Duck: This is another southern duck. I photographed this one at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in FL.

 

[AlanLichty]

The Mandarin Duck is an amazing color show that always steals the scene. Nice set.

 

[AlanLichty]

My wings are yet another round of backyard bees but hanging out on Sedum blooms instead of echinops flowers. Handheld at 560mm.

 

[JimFox]

I am going to continue with my duck theme while Eric is gone. This time I am going to feature ducks you don't often see.

Mottled Duck: This duck lives in the southeast US and although it looks like a female mallard it has a bright yellow beak and a black area called a gape at the base of the beak
View attachment 75570


Mandarin Duck: As you might have guessed, this duck is from Asia. It is cherished for its wonderful color and thus is bought as a pet by people in the US. Every one of the birds you see in the US are escapees. I photographed this one and a few others at Lynx Lake in Prescott, AZ
View attachment 75569


Black -bellied Whistliing Duck: This is another southern duck. I photographed this one at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in FL.
View attachment 75571

A great theme Doug and great photos. I had never heard of a Black-Bellied Whistling Duck before. I had no idea ducks could whistle!

 

[Joe Colozzo]

a little continued duck theme
Black Bellied whistling ducks

And some Butterflies

 

[larryj]

A few miscellaneous shots from a local lake,

A Snowy Egret

Adult Blue Heron leaving nest

Mallard Hen

Juvenile Blue Heron thinking of flying (did not make it this time).

 

[Trent Watts]

I spent some time in my garden yesterday and today, so will share insects that are still working away at the remaining flowers.

An American Hoverfly.

Another Hoverfly... I think it is a Thick-legged Hoverfly.

And a couple of images of a Hunt's Bumblee on a Bee Balm flower.
It was cool today and this bee was sitting on a Bee Balm flower just barely moving and allowed me to get within 3 inches.
Note to excellent leg-n-the-air Yoga pose in the second image.

 

[Trent Watts]

I am going to continue with my duck theme while Eric is gone. This time I am going to feature ducks you don't often see.

Mottled Duck: This duck lives in the southeast US and although it looks like a female mallard it has a bright yellow beak and a black area called a gape at the base of the beak
View attachment 75570


Mandarin Duck: As you might have guessed, this duck is from Asia. It is cherished for its wonderful color and thus is bought as a pet by people in the US. Every one of the birds you see in the US are escapees. I photographed this one and a few others at Lynx Lake in Prescott, AZ
View attachment 75569


Black -bellied Whistliing Duck: This is another southern duck. I photographed this one at Wakodahatchee Wetlands in FL.
View attachment 75571

Lovely duck shots Douglas. That Mandarin is amazingly coloured.

 

[Trent Watts]

My wings are yet another round of backyard bees but hanging out on Sedum blooms instead of echinops flowers. Handheld at 560mm.

View attachment 75572

Those bees look busy and the Sedum is a lovely colour.

 

[Trent Watts]

a little continued duck theme
Black Bellied whistling ducks
View attachment 75579View attachment 75580

And some ButterfliesView attachment 75581View attachment 75582

Nice ones Joe. I love the curled proboscis on the last butterfly.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

I spent some time in my garden yesterday and today, so will share insects that are still working away at the remaining flowers.

An American Hoverfly.
View attachment 75731

Another Hoverfly... I think it is a Thick-legged Hoverfly.
View attachment 75734

And a couple of images of a Hunt's Bumblee on a Bee Balm flower.
It was cool today and this bee was sitting on a Bee Balm flower just barely moving and allowed me to get within 3 inches.
Note to excellent leg-n-the-air Yoga pose in the second image.
View attachment 75732
View attachment 75735

Great images, Trent.