Winter waterfowl on the Choptank
There’s a spot on Maryland’s Eastern Shore that birders and photographers know where wintering waterfowl (with a little help from their friends) are easy to see.
I’m totally smitten with American Wigeons, which I’d never seen before.
American Wigeon pair
The Wigeon male gives a soft, whistling call year-round.
American Wigeon female
It’s been years since I’ve seen Canvasbacks.
Canvasbacks
Canvasback male
The Canvasback female looks like an antique decoy
I mistook a Redhead for a male Canvasback. See the difference in this photo.
The Redhead has a black-tipped blue bill, while the Canvasback in the foreground has a uniformly dark and narrower bill.
Redhead
Lesser Scaups are busy diving ducks, powered by strong, back-set legs.
Lesser Scaup male
Lesser Scaup female
In in the distance, Surf Scoters swam back and forth in their distinctive line.
Surf Scoters
Can you ID these ducks?
Elev. 401 
The duck in the middle is the American Wigeon. The ones front and back are Canvasbacks. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
No doubt in my mind that you’d know, H.J.!
LikeLiked by 1 person
From back to front: Male canvasback, male wigeon, female canvasback? I didn’t look at the answer above until I’d typed mine. YAY! As a super-amateur birder (Look! A male cardinal!), this was a really wonderful little lesson. Thank you! (And please do more! )
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aces, Cy! Full disclosure: Before Tuesday I wouldn’t have been able to ID the wigeon without a field guide.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful shots, I’m glad you got close and personal with the American Wigeons. I was most excited seeing them too at that special place to capture our wonderful wintering ducks! 😊 Second, came in the Redhead, I only saw one myself. You’ve got me definitely heading back there to look for those Surf Scoters, they weren’t there when I stopped.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, but to have seen Goldeneyes like you did!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post, as usual. Reading this reminded me that I recently dreamed that I saw a Mandarin duck in Tuscany-Canterbury.
LikeLike
Well, definitely let me know if you see that duck when you are awake! 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person