was not one of them, even though they are apparently quite common throughout western Canada. When I first saw this bird I recognized that something was different, but I made the assumption that he was just a larger Mallard Duck. However, having learned to heed the sense that something is different about a bird, and in this way make the most of a possibility, I took the first picture anyway and was nicely rewarded as you will see. |
| Northern Shoveler male |
This bird is a handsome fellow despite his large bill. When I first spotted him he was coming towards me across the pond, facing me head on, so it wasn't difficult to mistake him for a Mallard, especially since I was only half paying attention. It wasn't until he turned sideways and was closer to me that I realized I really did have a different species of duck in sight, one I had never encountered before. Naturally I got excited and took lots of pictures, which I couldn't wait to view on my computer in order to identify this bird.
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