05 January 2014

Pacific Black Duck, and (Northern) Mallard

 a little bridge over a little creek, at Cooranbong Park, N.S.W. 
 

 all was quiet; seems everyone else was by the bigger water-ways; lake and ocean instead
 

 
Just a few Pacific Black Ducks, and I did witness through the din of the cicada chorus, one (cicada) had dropped out of an overhanging tree and was spinning around on the surface of the water.  Not for long, it was soon picked up by one of these ducks; so they do fulfil a great purpose there well and truly.
 

 I'm guessing a juvenile (Northern) Mallard since there's seemingly, not full colour on his neck yet.  Or, maybe some are different, just like we are?  Possibly a female too...

 Tea-Tree (Leptospermum)






 I think the sentinel, on duty still

while the (Northern) Mallard has a camp
 


If it's well written and well directed and you've got good actors to work with, acting is easy.
But making sure all the ducks are in a row is the hard part.  It's very rare.
 
John Lithgow
 
Pacific Black Duck fact-sheet here compliments Birds in Backyards

Northern Mallard fact-sheet here


 
Quotation via Brainyquote.com

24 comments:

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful bridge in the first one and the pictures of Pacific Black Ducks, superb.

Irma said...

Beautiful photos of these ducks.
Very well photographed, Carole.

Ramakrishnan said...

Charming bridge over the creek and lovely mallards. Have a great week end !

eileeninmd said...

Beautiful ducks and lovely photos. The bridge scene is pretty! wonderful series of photos, Carole!

EG CameraGirl said...

This is the first time I've seen the pretty flowers of the tea-tree.

Your black ducks look a bit different from the ones we have here. Do they sometimes breed with mallards as they do in North America?

Montanagirl said...

Nice photography as always! Love that little bridge, and the water reflections. Happy New Year again!!

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love that bridge. gorgeous ducks too. ( :

John @ Beans and I on the Loose said...

I like the shape of the blossoms on the tea-tree. I'd have my macro on them in a pair of seconds.

Brian King said...

Very handsome ducks! I like the feather patterns. The stripe through their eyes is nice!

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

Great photos of the ducks and you captured them all in a row! I love the bridge and the Tea-Tree.

TexWisGirl said...

fine looking ducks! i really like those pacific black ducks. dramatic eye-liner. :)

Lisa Gordon said...

Carole, these ducks are really beautiful.
They have such wonderful markings.

Carole M. said...

enjoyed reading all comments again, thanks for coming back and leaving your little messages like you do.

John/Sinbad: I'd have liked a close-up of the tea-tree flower too, since you might have seen if you looked closely - a bee was buzzing around top right of photo. The flowers were just that little bit too high from the ground though, and I'm a shorty ...

EG CameraGirl: The Pacific Black Duck and the Mallard do breed together (I've added a link now to a fact-sheet from B's in B's)

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

hi Carole. I am glad you wrote to me as I did not get your post in my reading list on blogger!! Anyhow, that duck is a male Mallard, in eclipse. they usually go into this state directly after breeding, a male Mallard does not look after the young. All duck, geese and swans lose their feathers after breeding over a 2 month period when this happens they cannot fly so the male would be very venerable if they kept they lovely colours, so they look more like the female at this stage. However the male' s bill remains yellow, the female never has a yellow bill, more brown with orangey at
sides. Also the male in eclipse's breast is more chestnut colour than the female.and you usually can see the line where the lovely green head came.down to on the neck. Having said all that, your Mallards will inter bred with your Black ducks if given the chance, so this is also a thing to bare in mind when trying to ID them!! I hope this has helped answer your question.

Carole M. said...

thanks Margaret A for your informed explanation on the Mallard colorings. So good that you knew that background to pass along for me, and much appreciated.

Jan Castle said...

Great bridge and love the 'ducks in a row' pic Carole!!! Perfect!
Jan

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

We don't see Pacific Black Ducks over here but Mallards are common as ------. This one looks like a juvenile male or a male just coming out of eclipse plumage, that infuriating time of year when they look very similar to females.

Dianne said...

Ducks are such peaceful creatures ... Mothers always checking on the welfare of their brood is always a joy to watch.

Stewart M said...

Nice post! One day I will have all my ducks in a row - and that will be the day people ask for geese!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Phil Slade said...

Those Pacific Black Ducks are so like Mallards that it must be easy for the unwary to pass them by sometimes Carole. No such problem here though. Some realy nice portraits you have there.

Helma said...

That bridge you really beautifully photographed. Also your ducks are very nice. You see their drawing and pile tape of these ducks picture 3 is really very nice. Compliments for this beautiful ducks.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

Wonderful shots- I like that very last single shot best. The tea tree is interesting...I think I would try and get a macro of flower too!

NatureFootstep said...

the black mallard has a very nice head :)

Jeanne said...

Lovely shots of the ducks! Is this the park that you are going to today??? Feel as if i have nearly gone alone, except I did miss the cuppa and the.... pickelet?? well pancake. Maybe next time! Best to you from Texas!