Wordless Wednesday: Northern Shoveler

 

Wildlife Image: Northern Shoveler Feeding

A Migratory Visitor

Camera: Pentax K1

Lens: Pentax 300 + 1.4 Converter Focal Length 420MM

Exposure:  f/5.6   1/800   ISO 800

Location: Tomigusuku Okinawa Japan

Date and Time:  JAN 23  2017  12:21 PM

Previous Post:  Northern Shoveler, Duck in the Mud 

Reference: Cornell Lab All About Birds

Wildlife Photos: Northern Shoveler Ducks

They Have Returned to Okinawa

 

 

Today, I went out for a walk with the Pentax 300mm lens.

It was a bit of a surprise when these birds flew over but, good practice for shooting.

Now that I know where they hangout, I'll go back again, someday.

And, see if I can shoot the whole herd.

There must have been 40 or 50 of them in the fields bordering Kin Town.

That's a good reason for me to get out of the office for a few days.

It's a long walk to the wetlands but, at least the wife can't find me when I'm there !

Wildfife Photo: Northern Shoveler, Duck in the Mud

This is a photo of a duck commonly called the Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)  shot back in Jan 2009. 

They migrate to Okinawa, Japan only for the winter months and are all gone, now.  They can be found in fresh waters and marshes all over the northern parts of Asia, Europe and North America. 

Every once in awhile someone even spots them visiting Australia but, it's rare.

The mud you see this duck hanging out in is a field of water potatoes (taro) and what these ducks do is dive into the muddy water with their shovel-shaped noses and come up with a mouthful of nasty looking water.  A small hole in the center of the bill serves as a drain. 
They just spit out the muddy water and eat whatever bugs, crustaceans, or plant matter they like.  

Just like little kids, only they don't need any adult supervision.  Hah !

If you want more information on the Northern Shoveler, or any bird, around the globe, for that matter check out where I go for wildlife information:  THE BIRD FORUM  They have a Bird Encyclopedia named OPUS.  Type in a bird's common name or scientific name and you can find out all about it.

They'll tell you that female Northern Shovelers say "quack quack" but, the males say "took took" and just in case you don't believe them, they'll send you to where you can listen to "took took" and "quack quack".  If you ever run across some ducks in the mud where you live, you could strike up a conversation with them !