Tuesday, March 17, 2015

American Coot

 American Coot (Fulica americana)

It's mid March and already there's a coot swimming in our icy waters! It came surprisingly close to me, quite content to dive under the ice for aquatic treats.

Chicken-like bird with odd-shaped feet

I was hoping it would climb up on the ice so I could get a closer look at it's feet. It didn't, but it did come close enough for me to see one foot under the cloudy water. Notice, the foot is not webbed like a duck's but it can still swim.

I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE
at

40 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 17, 2015 at 4:34 AM

    Lovely reflection in the first shot. Neat capture of the foot.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The CrankyMarch 17, 2015 at 4:34 AM

    Impeccably captured! Now if my teeth will just stop chattering...

    ReplyDelete
  3. AndyMarch 17, 2015 at 4:35 AM

    A very good sign that spring is on it's way. I saw two red wing black birds yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  4. UnknownMarch 17, 2015 at 4:47 AM

    That's a pretty one, I like the white beek :)
    Have a beautiful day
    【ツ】Knipsa

    ReplyDelete
  5. Margaret Birding For PleasureMarch 17, 2015 at 6:19 AM

    there feet are hilarious. Looks like they have bubbles on them. Great shots and reflection. Happy St Patrick’s Day.

    ReplyDelete
  6. laurak/ForestWalkArt :)March 17, 2015 at 7:46 AM

    nice shots of the coot!!
    look at those cute little feet!!
    and the RED EYES!!!! wow!

    BBbbbrrrrrrrr!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. DarlaMarch 17, 2015 at 7:51 AM

    Nice looking bird. I wonder where the term "old coot" comes from.

    Darla

    ReplyDelete
  8. MadSnapperMarch 17, 2015 at 8:26 AM

    so maybe this is a Canadian coot! LOL.. he is a beauty and it is odd to see non webbed feet that can swim like that..

    ReplyDelete
  9. Gill - That British WomanMarch 17, 2015 at 8:39 AM

    after the wind and snow this morning, it will be flying south again. Gosh it's nippy cold out there.

    ReplyDelete
  10. John's IslandMarch 17, 2015 at 8:41 AM

    Hi Tina, These are some excellent shots of the American Coot. (Sometimes I wonder where they came up with the name!) Thanks for your kind comment about my postcard collection! Have a great day! John

    ReplyDelete
  11. BirdmanMarch 17, 2015 at 8:51 AM

    Hahahaha
    Is that an old coot?
    American expression= old person.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Linda W.March 17, 2015 at 9:28 AM

    Interesting bird, especially the feet! Nice shots!

    ReplyDelete
  13. TexWisGirlMarch 17, 2015 at 9:43 AM

    such neat birds! you're the second blogger i've read today to show them. :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. William KendallMarch 17, 2015 at 11:09 AM

    Very different feet indeed for a water bird. It looks like a real character.

    ReplyDelete
  15. HannahMarch 17, 2015 at 11:19 AM

    Great shots, I love the glossy black feathers and the fantastic red eyes! While they don't have webbing, the have modified scales that add resistance on the down stroke and flatten on the up stroke, pretty neat.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sylvia KMarch 17, 2015 at 11:37 AM

    Handsome fellow and great to be able to see his foot with no webbing! Love his RED eyes!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Adam JonesMarch 17, 2015 at 12:10 PM

    Lovely light in these shots. Nice to see the legs below the water too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. CarlettaMarch 17, 2015 at 12:22 PM

    Chicken like bird with chicken like feet! :) Wonderful close ups of Mr. Red Eye!

    ReplyDelete
  19. PerthDailyPhotoMarch 17, 2015 at 12:44 PM

    He's very similar to our coot EG, possibly ours doesn't have the marks on its beak.

    ReplyDelete
  20. JanieMarch 17, 2015 at 12:47 PM

    Interesting to see that the coot's feet are not duck-like. Nice shots. Looks like you're having a mind winter, as are we here in Utah.

    ReplyDelete
  21. RedPatMarch 17, 2015 at 1:32 PM

    He must have to put a lot of effort into swimming without the webbing on his feet, EG!
    I will get you pics of the crocuses when they come out. ;-)

    ReplyDelete
  22. A Colorful WorldMarch 17, 2015 at 1:38 PM

    Great photos! he doesn't seem to mind that icy water at all!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Mary HoneMarch 17, 2015 at 1:57 PM

    They are such an odd bird, and apparently well insulated.

    ReplyDelete
  24. AnonymousMarch 17, 2015 at 1:57 PM

    Beautiful shots.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Taken For GrantedMarch 17, 2015 at 2:31 PM

    I've been called an "Old Coot". Those name callers didn't realize what a fine looking bird this is. In the future I'll take no offense at this name. Fine photos.

    ReplyDelete
  26. BreathtakingMarch 17, 2015 at 3:03 PM

    Impeccaable captures of the Coot with great reflections.

    ReplyDelete
  27. AnonymousMarch 17, 2015 at 3:04 PM

    I like the reflection in your fisrt shot

    ReplyDelete
  28. VPMarch 17, 2015 at 3:49 PM

    Our subjects often ignore or even contradict our photographic wishes...

    ReplyDelete
  29. JennyMarch 17, 2015 at 4:25 PM

    His head feathers look more life fur than feathers, and his toes are surprisingly long. I've never seen a coot up close - neat pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Lee@A Guide to Northeastern GardeningMarch 17, 2015 at 5:21 PM

    You have captured the coot beautifully. I had seen something that looked like this and wasn't sure what it was...fascinating animal!

    ReplyDelete
  31. Sallie (FullTime-Life)March 17, 2015 at 5:21 PM

    I knew about coots and their chicken" feet,. We see them pretty often in Oregon and here. But I guess I've never gotten close enough to them, because I didn't know about that red eye! Great photo, but wow it is still awfully cold up there!

    ReplyDelete
  32. JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes)March 17, 2015 at 5:38 PM

    We have thousands that overwinter here in the Pacific Northwest - funny birds. Great capture.

    ReplyDelete
  33. UnknownMarch 17, 2015 at 6:48 PM

    Fascinating stuff, I like the ice in the picture...

    ReplyDelete
  34. jp@A Green RidgeMarch 17, 2015 at 7:02 PM

    Beautiful pic!...:)JP

    ReplyDelete
  35. KayMarch 17, 2015 at 7:16 PM

    Now I'm curious about why their feet aren't webbed. Hmmmm. I didn't realize they had such striking red eyes. Great shots!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Jenn JilksMarch 17, 2015 at 8:58 PM

    Tina, you do such amazing work!

    ReplyDelete
  37. Ruth HiebertMarch 17, 2015 at 9:10 PM

    Those are lovely close shots of the Coot.

    ReplyDelete
  38. StephanieMarch 17, 2015 at 9:15 PM

    You captured the Coot beautifully!

    ReplyDelete
  39. RoseMarch 17, 2015 at 10:43 PM

    Every time I see a coot, I think of how the one would follow Lorelei all around the pond at my daughter's complex when we were in Califonia the month of April. It would hear her voice, and here it would come...and it would swim and follow us everywhere.

    ReplyDelete
  40. 21 WitsMarch 17, 2015 at 11:43 PM

    I always like seeing them, and they swim about in large groups on our lakes! It's beautiful to see.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my little corner of the world. I hope you enjoyed your stay here. Please leave a comment before you leave so I can visit your blog.