Rednecks and Ducks

Bufflehead, West Chester Lagoon, Anchorage, AK.

Wonderful photo of the Bufflehead!!!

Gras, every time I see this thread header I think you're talking about the people, not the waterfowl...lol! Some absolutely stunning photos, thank you!

The rednecks here wear those fake "billy bob" teeth, because it is cheaper than dentures, and they look so natural.

The rednecks here are rejoicing in the celebration of spring, with thoughts turning to love. This evening pairs were preforming the synchronized water ballet of courtship, all across the lagoon. The singing is as impressive as the dance.

Bufflehead male walking on water.

Heneni, I see you appreciate? my off center sense of humor.

There was a strong cold wind blowing this evening. I sat on the bank at the lagoon for a long time waiting for something to photograph, and only getting cold. Suddenly, it was as if an aphrodisiac spread across the entire lagoon at once. There was action everywhere.

A mated pair of Bufflehead are attacking two of three male interlopers. The bachelors had just landed. There was a surplus of unattached males, and they moving from one female to the next.

This lone female Common Goldeneye was constantly mobbed by up to eight males at a time. At times it was like a free for all bar fight, but the fighters were all dancing.

The Red-necked Grebe, in the water, squawks in protest. The love struck male Goldeneye's fight has just exploded into his territory.

The Rednecks were still dancing when I left.

Wonderful captures Gras!

That courtship photo is just delightful Gras! And yes, I fully appreciated the humor :)

Gras, you make me laugh out loud, but at the same time have me in awe with those incredible photos!!!

Thanks so much for the complements everyone. The invention of the modern digital camera, is allowing me to finally live a fantasy I have dreamt for forty years. I'm finally able to capture realist images of rapidly moving small birds, in a way that never existed with the outdated 35mm cameras. In June 1967 I spent a weeks vacation photographing the extremely rare Kirtland's Warbler with my first 35mm camera. For the last month I have been fantizing about the images I could have captured with today's equipment. A retired old man, living a life long fantasy, taking pictures like these. Self-actualization: creating beauty simply for the pleasure of creating.

We went back to Palmer this evening. A great air show, but entirely different than last night, in addition the clouds moved in, along with a strong cold wind. The Snows weren't dropping right in front of me like last night. Tonight, I was trying for shots with the Talkeetna Mountains as the back ground. The telephoto lens pulls those distant mountains, up real close! Great for landscapes also.

Wonderful pictures. I love the last one and the walking on water. It has been really nice here lately, but cannot have the window open at night for all the noise. They don't stop at night and sleep, they fight, yell, flap, chase, and gossip. All that with the frogs makes it a little hard to sleep. I love it though.

Gras, you said it all: "Creating beauty simply for the pleasure of creating." With such lovely thoughts, no wonder you take such great photos!! Yes, the modern equipment helps, but you have a superb eye and excellent ability. Don't sell yourself short!

This Horned Grebe doesn't stop at just a redneck. He also has Lucifer's red eyes, and a dandy red strip from the eye to the base of the bill.

Two pairs of Canvasbacks and a pair of Mew Gulls at Potter's Marsh, Anchorage, Alaska. May Day 2007.

I need help identifying the shore birds in this picture. There are 5 shore birds between the pair of Northern Shovelers.
The local bird net reported the sighting of a pair of Hudsonian Godwit on this tiny island shortly before the picture was taken. I do not know shore birds. There are two reddish birds and three grayish birds. Are they all the same species or are there two Godwit and three of something else. At least some have yellowish legs so they can't all be Godwit.

This is another picture after they had moved a little. Sorry the pictures are so grainy. I enhanced them the best I could. The island is just too far off shore to get good shots, until I finally succeed in learning to walking on water.

As per the positions in the first pic: the two grey waders at each end (nearest the two Shovelers) are Greater Yellowlegs; the two reddish ones are dowitchers, probably Short-billed Dowitcher; the 5th wader is too much hidden to identify, Hudwit is a possibility, but far from confirmed.

Resin

Thanks Resin.

After not coming close enough for a good look the other day, the Yellowlegs walked up to me today. This time it put on a show for me.

Wonderful, I think I like those rednecks the best. I have never seen one. They must be even more beautiful in person. Thanks for all the pics.

Wow - what an amazing photo of the Yellowlegs!!!

A female Barrow's Goldeneye.

She's beautiful!

Your pictures again are amazing. I spotted a couple of geese on the shore yesterday in front of the house. They waddled into the water and I saw some yellow fuzzies between them. Got the camera just in time to snap pics of these first ones I have seen this year goslings.

Oh how sweet!

Awwwwwwwwwwww . . . I need to looking for little goslings as the Canadian Geese are around our little lake all the time.

We won't be seeing any of those little yellow geese until the end of the month, at the earliest.

This male Gadwall is in full breading plumage. There were two males chasing one female, but she liked the other guy, who wasn't nearly as good looking, to my eye. They were in open water near shore on Spenard Lake, Anchorage International Airport.

What an incredible variety of patterns and colors on that Gadwall - a real charmer, I'd say.

The other male and the female Gadwall, at Lake Spenard part of Anchorage International Airport. The object front -center is a float plane tie-down. The ice isn't completely out yet, so the planes aren't in the water. The Lake Hood - Spenard Lake portion of the airport is the largest float plane base in the world.

Very intresting. Great pictures and information. Really enjoying this thread. Our goslings are born pretty early here. When I think back on the weather, although nice now, must have been tough on the nesters. They must really stick tight to the nest to keep those eggs warm. I found many eggs shells down by the river, but it looked like they were eaten, not hatched. I love seeing the goslings, esp. when they are little yellow floating fluffs.

Those of us who are not exactly what one would call young, would always agree that "age and experience counts far more than youthful good looks!"

Hey, you can be older and still be great looking. Of course...I don't see as well anymore. (just as well)

Resin, that's interesting. I was guessing the white feathers on the younger bird was the sign of age, as per Bald Eagles, white is a sign of age.

A number of local bird photographers have been frustrated, because 3 or 4 pairs of Canvasback have staked out territory's directly in front of the viewing pull out at Potter's Marsh, but just a little too far out in the marsh for a decent shot. This evening must have been about my eight try. Too my surprise, a male and two females, were feeding just a few feet off shore. I got a little carried away and took over a hundred shots of just the Canvasback. Notice the difference in the eye color between the sexes.

He's a little spooky looking. Nice pic!

This message was edited May 10, 2007 6:46 AM

Love that picture.

Great photo, Gras! Was this 100 pics in addition to the 145 you mentioned with your great Tern picture? Now you're talkin'!