Sly, and The Family Stone!
At the Canal, the Family of Common Eiders
4 Common Eiders
I truly have no idea if they are a family, and, since I spend most of my time birding with Shorebirds and not ducks, I am simply not familiar enough to know the family and rearing of this species. But, here's what I do know. In front, in white, is a Mature Adult Male. Behind, next and slightly left, is a mature Adult Female. Following her, with the white throat, is a Second Winter, Immature Male. Eventually, he'll be all white, like dad. Behind, and this is the toughest for me to ID, is an immature, first year juvenile. Possibly, a female.
The Eiders' All Here.
Dad was already ashore, and sitting, perhaps to rest, and warm a bit. All three others popped ashore at the same time. See the splashes and droplets as they burst onshore?
Whether this group of four was a family or not, it was fun watching all of them, in the larger group of maybe twenty or so eiders, down on the canal. Last year, I spotted a King Eider in the same area, and this year, no luck. There have been other birds, including Red Breasted Mergansers, but no King yet. It's a common bird watching spot. there's a herring run that empties to the canal, and the birds gather to fish, and do a little nibbling, and sun on the rocks.
Photo by Bluefin Studios
Nikon d7000, 600mm, f6.3, 1/1,250th, Adobe Lightroom, Photoshop
Beautiful photography. Very tender family of ducklings.
thanks....
curious ducks of many colors 😊
Posted using Partiko iOS
relatively well behaved, though!
Upvoted from PYPT curation show on TheRamble
Another cool photo.
You'd love all the shorebirds and waders we have down here in Victoria.... when you come visit, bring your camera ;-)
Not as good as your pics, but here's one I snapped the other day down at Phillip Island — the little penguins under the boardwalk at the Nobbies.