Wednesday 14 June 2017

Wild Bird Wednesday 256 - Australasian Shoveler at Sunset

More shots from the hide at Edithvale for WBW this week.

Although many of the birds were keeping their distance on Sunday afternoon, a mixed group of ducks  spent the afternoon sorting out their feathers in the sunshine.  Towards the end of the afternoon the light took on a wonder golden colour and the ducks looked great.

Many of the ducks were Australasian Shovelers (Anas rhynchotis) - which can be identified by there large beak and (in the males) a blue/grey head.  There are also some Chestnut Teal and Eurasian Coots.

I went to the hide hoping to see the Shovelers, and they did not let me down.










As ever, to join in with WBW, just click the blue button below the thumbnails.  SM

19 comments:

  1. those bills are something else. I wish we had them around here. Interested to hear how they got their name.

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  2. Hi Stewart, great captures of this pretty and interesting waders. Thanks for sharing and for hosting this meme. I'll link up tomorrow (Wednesday in South Africa) Greetings Jo

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  3. lovely to see your shovelers. And you are right. it is a wonderful light in your images :)

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  4. Fantastic pictures. Sorry I haven't linked up for a while, I've been having lots of exams.

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  5. Hi Stewart, as far as I can tell, the only resemblance to the UK Shoveler is the bill
    All the best,Gordon.

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  6. Hello, Stewart, Great shots of your Australian Shoveler. I see they have the same bill as the Northern Shoveler I see here. Thanks for hosting, have a happy day and week ahead!

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  7. There are some incredible reflections on your photos that make it all surreal. I had a hard time at first seeing the birds - the patterns took prominence . Lovely.

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  8. Nice light! Did you see any Magpie geese? Looking at E-Bird it seems to be a good spot for them.

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  9. Fascinating birds with a great shovelling beak :-) Love the reflections. Cheers Diane

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  10. The only thing about your Shovelers and my Shovelers that is the same is the big honking bill,otherwise the coloring is totally different. Equally attractive, but I have to say I like the blue gray head on yours :) Our politics seem to go from bad to worse ... no hope of change. The Republicans a trying to pass a bill that will throw 23 million people off medical insurance while giving billionaires a huge tax break and that is just for starters. Australia is looking better every day :)Be well and appreciate what you have ... and fight for what you don't have :)

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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  11. Stewart, always a pleasure to view Shovelors. Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Very nice photos in great light. The color of the wing patches is striking!

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  13. Nice photos..Great reflections in the water..So clear..Attractive coloring. Substantial bills..Hope you are having a good week...

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  14. Fabulous, such beautiful feather colourations~

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  15. Great lighting! All I've seen lately around me are Mallards...I need to head to the wetlands!

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  16. Lovely pictures! Happy weekend!

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