{"id":1674,"date":"2018-11-12T12:57:13","date_gmt":"2018-11-12T12:57:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.megforward.com\/birds\/?p=1674"},"modified":"2024-02-15T15:30:24","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T15:30:24","slug":"ducks-on-a-california-lake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.megforward.com\/birds\/index.php\/2018\/11\/12\/ducks-on-a-california-lake\/","title":{"rendered":"Ducks on a California Lake"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

While visiting San Diego recently, I went to the Santee Lakes Regional Park, a winter wonderland of ducks in the heart of a residential neighborhood. It seemed to be filled with “dabbling” ducks, that is, ones that feed by tipping (bottoms up) to reach aquatic plants and animals below the surface. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"
Gadwalls, bottoms up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Mallard, bottoms up<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Cinnamon Teals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Cinnamon Teals<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Male Cinnamon Teal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Female Cinnamon Teal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
American Wigeon, female<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Domestic Ducks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Mallard pair<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Mallard pair<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Mallard male<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Mallard male<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Mallard female<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Gadwall pair<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Gadwall pair<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Gadwalls feeding<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Gadwall male<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Gadwall male<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Gadwall closeup<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Canada Goose, a dabbler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Ring-necked Duck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Ring-necked duck pair<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Ring-necked Duck<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Ring-necked duck pair<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Northern Shoveller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Northern Shoveler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Northern Shoveler, grooming<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Northern Shoveller<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Wood Duck pair<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

There were plenty of Ruddy Ducks on the lakes, but unlike the others, they do not dabble. Instead, this small bird dives for food, disappearing inconveniently just as you focus to take a photograph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a>
Ruddy Duck in winter plumage<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a>
Ruddy Duck female<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Despite all the ducks, the most abundant birds on the lakes are not ducks at all, but American Coot<\/strong>s, also called “mudhens.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Here’s another duck-like bird, a female Pied-billed Grebe. <\/strong>She swam amidst the coots, diving underwater to feed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Santee Lakes Park attracts plenty of other large waterbirds, like these impressive Great White Pelicans<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n

Despite their obvious differences, waterbirds manage to coexist in peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Here are a couple of my related posts about ducks:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n