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Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday - Prepare for Liftoff



The city of Anchorage near Louisville has several old stone bridges like this one over Owl Creek on Bellewood Road.  I spotted this male mallard and pulled off the road to try to get a few shots without causing a big traffic snarl.  Here you can see his handsome silver gray sides and brown breast.

Mallard male in profile to better show off that iridescent green head and bright blue wing pattern.



And finally, he gets fed up with being camera stalked and goes into liftoff mode--all the better to see his black hind end with curled tail and white tail feathers.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday .

14 comments:

Unknown said...

Hansdome fellow!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Jan n Jer said...

wouldnt you figure, your best shot was the last one n he turned his head!!!

TexWisGirl said...

gotta love a cute duck butt!

Faye said...

Janis -exactly! I was quite literally parked at a lane turn off and getting dirty looks from other drivers. Clicking fast and not taking time to focus. Mr. Mallard shows me his duck butt and lifts off--most in focus shot!

prairiebirder said...

Great photos!

Jennifer said...

LOL...understand completely about the stopping in traffic thing. I did a similar thing the other night to get a shot of a fantastic barn. :) That last shot is great!

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Stunning photos - that last one is gorgeous!!!!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Isn't he gorgeous, Faye? I love all of the colors of the mallards. Beautiful.

Hugs,
Betsy

Carletta said...

Love that last shot Faye!
Their little green heads are so pretty.
You've reminded me I need to get down to the park and take some photos. :)

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love the last shot. those butt feathers - too cute!! ( :

Jo's World said...

The mallard is a male duck and the female is a hen.

That curly little tail means that he is old enough to mate and have a big family (thats called a s-x feather!)

Cheers,
Jo, Stella and Zkhat

Unknown said...

He's a handsome fellow.

Stewart M said...

I think mallard are such great looking birds - birders would travel miles to see them if they were rare.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

ExploreColorado said...

What a beautiful waterfall. The mallard isn't to shabby either.