Saturday, January 4, 2014

Mandarin Duck

 Sleeping Mandarin Duck

On New Years Day, my husband and I were out looking for as many different species of birds we could find to start our 2014 birding list - a game we enjoy playing together - when we happened upon this odd sleeping fellow amongst a group of  Mallards.

Awake!

An escapee, so not counted on our list. But isn't he handsome? He ignored us - not at all interested in a photo op - so we continued on our walk. On our way back, though, several other photographers had discovered him and had walked out onto the ice a little to close for his comfort, so that

"Escaping" via water

he had decided to go for a chilly swim in an opening in the ice.  It just so happened that he swam close to me as I stood on the bridge over the creek.

FYI: In spite of it being a chilly, overcast day, my husband and I found 30 different bird species in the Whitby (on Lake Ontario) area.

I am linking with Saturday Critters HERE.
and
Camera Critters HERE  and
I am linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'  HERE.

61 comments:

Anonymous said...

Beautiful bird, with beautiful colours!

Carole M. said...

he's SO handsome; they intruige me

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Goodness EG he is rather splendid.. all that fabulous colour topped off by a bright red beak.. beautifully shown here.

Stuart said...

What a gorgeous bird ! Nice shots.

Revrunner said...

Maybe he thought he could pass as a Mallard. :-)

Andy said...

This guy has such beautiful colours.

Kate said...

Those birds really know how to stay warm; love the way they tuck themselves together.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

now that is an amazing bird. all those colors. beautiful! ( :

aspiritofsimplicity said...

what a beautiful bird!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh I LOVE LOVE this duck I have never seen one and I appreciate your hunting for those shots to share with me oh I meant everyone:) Hug B

The Cranky said...

He's beautiful but BRRRRR!

eileeninmd said...

Sounds like you had a great day looking for and counting the birds. The Mandarin Duck is beautiful, I hope it stays safe. Lovely photos.

Thanks for sharing your post on Saturday's Critters. Have a happy weekend!

rainfield61 said...

I wonder whether a Mandarin duck speaks Mandarin.

Gill - That British Woman said...

a very beautiful birdie indeed. Try and stay warm.

The Furry Gnome said...

What an incredible duck! And amazing pictures!

Judy said...

He is such a pretty bird!!! And 14 is a lot of species, considering the temperature!!!

Our photos said...

What a beautiful duck!

Jenn Jilks said...

Startling colours! How beautiful!
Cheers from Cottage Country Ontario !

Pamela Gordon said...

He certainly is beautiful! Great photos.

Gail Dixon said...

I have always wanted to see one of these. They're even more colorful than the wood duck. Hubby and I went out last week looking for birds and ended up seeing several duck species we hadn't seen before. I wish this had been one of them, but I'm happy with my hooded merganser. :)

Kerri Farley said...

LOVE those Colors!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous shots, CG.
Their feather colors are so vivid they don't look real.
Happy weekend :)

MadSnapper said...

i like that sleeping one best of all. he is a beauty... and brrrr on the tush in the ice...

Lowell said...

What great shots of this gorgeous creature! Photographers walking out on the ice when open water is in sight!

Photographers are nuts!

Indrani said...

What a delight!
Lovely colors on it.

Unknown said...

What a beautiful bird - and great shots!

Phil Slade said...

He's a handsome duck, your photos a great way to start 2014. 30 species is a good start too, especially since we have seen some of your arctic weather on our TV screens.

TexWisGirl said...

really awesome sighting to start out the year!

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

I'd love to see one of them. I'd count it too. It's nice that your husband has an interest in the things that you like to do.

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous bird and photos are awesome ~ Happy 2014 ~ carol, xxx

Unknown said...

What a nice way to start a new year. 30 dif. species is quiet a bit of birds in the area. What a beautiful colors on the Mandarin Duck. Great catch !!!

Karen said...

A gorgeous duck, beautifully photographed!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

Your chilly walk paid off, and the mandarin duck was a bonus. Beautiful colouring on it!

Connie Smiley said...

Amazing photos! That handsome duck must have known you didn't want to disturb him.

Birdman said...

Don't think I've ever seen one of these. All decked out to go on the town... or pond.

maryaustria said...

Amazing shots! I love the colors of this duck! So beautiful!

Billy Blue Eyes said...

Very nice photos well captured

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

Hi EG What a wonderful find and great shot of him. I featured a duck today that I was excitd about but they were not colourful like yours.

Unknown said...

He really is handsome!

RedPat said...

What a handsome bird he is, EG!

SquirrelQueen said...

Mandarins are my favorite duck, the drake's colors are magnificent. Our local aviary has several mating pairs.

Giga said...

Jest sliczna. Chyba jej przerwałaś drzemkę. Pozdrawiam.
It's beautiful. Unless you interrupted her nap :). Yours.

Judy said...

Oh my look at all the gorgeous color of him in that bottom photo. I've not seen him ever.

Zosia said...

Oh, what a beauty! I don't think I've ever seen one like this.

Linda W. said...

What a beautiful duck - such bright colors. Nice photos.

Susan Demeter said...

Beautiful! I used to live in Ajax so know the area fairly well :)

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

This guy is really showing off his beautiful colors as he swims in the open water! Great way to start off the New Year.

Jack said...

The colors in the second and third photos are especially vivid.

OK, I give up. What is an escapee that doesn't count? I even googled it and couldn't find an answer.

Ruth Hiebert said...

What a spectacular looking bird this is!

Anni said...

Wow!!! That is awesome. Lucky you to have found this on your very first day of birding in the new year!! A memorable find.

Kathy said...

He's certainly a beauty!

Lisa Gordon said...

My goodness, these are gorgeous!

NatureFootstep said...

such gorgeous images of the duck in the snow. :)

Nonnie said...

what gorgeous plummage! all we see around here are mallards, pretty as they are, they are no competition for the Mandarin.

Saun said...

OMG stunning!

Rose said...

Oh, my, he is one handsome fellow!

Pat Tillett said...

A beautiful duck and beautiful photos of him!

Gemma Wiseman said...

Amazing colour contrasts in this feathered character. Love the first photo where the sleeping duck looks like some swirl of carnival colours.

Anonymous said...

Those colors are just amazing! They almost don't look real.

William Kendall said...

A striking looking bird!

K V V S MURTHY said...

So cute..!

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East Gwillimbury is a rural town less than an hour north of Toronto, Canada's largest city. My family calls me CameraGirl because I take my camera with me wherever I go.