This afternoon, I headed down to the South Platte River to check out the bird life. This beautiful female Mallard was perched on a rock at the shore.
Female Mallard No 1, South Platte.
Mallards are unique in that they have a metallic purple “speculum”. This is that purple “flash” that can be seen above the ducks feet. When this duck is in flight, this appears as purple tail feathers. Here is another image of the same duck.
Female Mallard No 2, South Platte.
Off course, there are always Canada Geese to be found. I was intrigued by this pair of geese in front of the row of yellow bollards that lined the street.
Pair Of Canada Geese, Yellow Bollards.
This goose stared right at me before resuming eating.
Stare From The Canada Goose.
Here is the same goose, framed by two bollards.
Canada Goose, No 2.
Heading north along the river, this pair of Mallards were busy feeding. That is the male in the foreground with the female in the background.
Pair Of Mallards, Feeding, South Platte.
There were plenty of Northern Shovelers in the South Platte River. These ducks are very skittish and take flight before some of the other species. I attempted to capture a Shoveler in flight. This was the best image that made.
Male Gadwall, No 2, South Platte Northern Shoveler, In Flight.
The Mallards frequently start flapping their wings while in the water. Here is one image from a sequence of images that I made. Here one can see the purple speculum in the tail feathers.
Mallard, Flapping His Wings, South Platte.
Finally, there was a single male Gadwall swimming among the Mallards and Shovelers. As the sun was getting lower in the sky, plants along the shore were reflected in the water.
Male Gadwall, No 1, South Platte.
Here is a second image of the Gadwall.
Male Gadwall, No 2, South Platte.
Enjoy!