Blue-Winged TealApril 24, 2008
 



In the four years that I've been wandering the Toftrees game land, I first came across a blue-winged teal a couple of weeks ago. Perhaps I saw it earlier but the teal was too far away for clear identification. No doubt about it now.

Anyway, my candidate as a new name for the blue-winged teal is the polka-dot duck. Really. Look at all the polka dots below.

 
blue-winged teal couple
 

Maybe Mrs. Blue-Winged Teal doesn't have any fancy polka dots, but a fact like that never stopped bird namers before.

Two days later, in the company of another birder, we came across two pairs of blue-winged teals that were somewhat more out in the open.

 
Blue-winged teal couple
 

The teals became nervous as we approached closer and flew. And then for the first time, I saw that there was a good reason for the duck's name.
 
male blue-winged teal flying
 

Blue-winged teal is okay.

Photo note: I used a Pentax *ist D, with the SMC 1000mm reflex lens in the middle of April 2008 for these photos.




My Pennsylvania bird list

Look Out!   |   Contact