I went by Pine Lake to check on the late summer duck population and found this group of mallards at one of their favorite gathering spots. There are both suzies (females) and drakes (males) in this shot. The drakes like the one in the center front have yellow beaks and brighter orange legs - they are in their eclipse plumage.Suzie mallards have darker beaks and legs and appear the same year round.
There were about a dozen mallard on the lake but I did not spot any wood ducks. The ducks that have spent most of the summer in Brookside Gardens begin to move over to Pine Lake this time of year for feeding on the aquatic plants to fatten up for their upcoming migration. Before they departed last Fall I counted about four dozen mallards and two dozen wood ducks on this lake. By late Fall they all had moved on.
Location/Date: Pine Lake in Wheaton Regional Park, Wheaton, MD, August 31, 2007.
[Nikon D200, Nikkor 80-400mm VR @ 400mm, 1/80s, f/11, iso 400, monopod]
Name:: Donna
Monday, September 10th, 2007
Oh boy, quackers.
Name:: Bud
Tuesday, September 11th, 2007
Don't worry guys and gal, I think you are quite pretty/handsome and will be back to check on you from time to time!
About me
My passion is nature photography. Images posted on this blog are © 2002-2008 by Bud Cline (dba, images by buddell) and all rights are reserved. No image may be used in any way without written permission.
My passion is nature photography. Images posted on this blog are © 2002-2008 by Bud Cline (dba, images by buddell) and all rights are reserved. No image may be used in any way without written permission.
Currently, I am...
Photographing: Fall scenes in MD and WV.
Photographing: Fall scenes in MD and WV.