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:
Beautiful bird, with beautiful colours!
he's SO handsome; they intruige me
Goodness EG he is rather splendid.. all that fabulous colour topped off by a bright red beak.. beautifully shown here.
What a gorgeous bird ! Nice shots.
Maybe he thought he could pass as a Mallard. :-)
This guy has such beautiful colours.
Those birds really know how to stay warm; love the way they tuck themselves together.
now that is an amazing bird. all those colors. beautiful! ( :
what a beautiful bird!
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
He's beautiful but BRRRRR!
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!
I wonder whether a Mandarin duck speaks Mandarin.
a very beautiful birdie indeed. Try and stay warm.
What an incredible duck! And amazing pictures!
He is such a pretty bird!!! And 14 is a lot of species, considering the temperature!!!
What a beautiful duck!
Startling colours! How beautiful!
Cheers from Cottage Country Ontario !
He certainly is beautiful! Great photos.
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. :)
LOVE those Colors!
Gorgeous shots, CG.
Their feather colors are so vivid they don't look real.
Happy weekend :)
i like that sleeping one best of all. he is a beauty... and brrrr on the tush in the ice...
What great shots of this gorgeous creature! Photographers walking out on the ice when open water is in sight!
Photographers are nuts!
What a delight!
Lovely colors on it.
What a beautiful bird - and great shots!
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.
really awesome sighting to start out the year!
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.
What a gorgeous bird and photos are awesome ~ Happy 2014 ~ carol, xxx
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 !!!
A gorgeous duck, beautifully photographed!
Your chilly walk paid off, and the mandarin duck was a bonus. Beautiful colouring on it!
Amazing photos! That handsome duck must have known you didn't want to disturb him.
Don't think I've ever seen one of these. All decked out to go on the town... or pond.
Amazing shots! I love the colors of this duck! So beautiful!
Very nice photos well captured
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.
He really is handsome!
What a handsome bird he is, EG!
Mandarins are my favorite duck, the drake's colors are magnificent. Our local aviary has several mating pairs.
Jest sliczna. Chyba jej przerwałaś drzemkę. Pozdrawiam.
It's beautiful. Unless you interrupted her nap :). Yours.
Oh my look at all the gorgeous color of him in that bottom photo. I've not seen him ever.
Oh, what a beauty! I don't think I've ever seen one like this.
What a beautiful duck - such bright colors. Nice photos.
Beautiful! I used to live in Ajax so know the area fairly well :)
This guy is really showing off his beautiful colors as he swims in the open water! Great way to start off the New Year.
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.
What a spectacular looking bird this is!
Wow!!! That is awesome. Lucky you to have found this on your very first day of birding in the new year!! A memorable find.
He's certainly a beauty!
My goodness, these are gorgeous!
such gorgeous images of the duck in the snow. :)
what gorgeous plummage! all we see around here are mallards, pretty as they are, they are no competition for the Mandarin.
OMG stunning!
Oh, my, he is one handsome fellow!
A beautiful duck and beautiful photos of him!
Amazing colour contrasts in this feathered character. Love the first photo where the sleeping duck looks like some swirl of carnival colours.
Those colors are just amazing! They almost don't look real.
A striking looking bird!
So cute..!
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