Ring-Necked Duck

In an earlier post I mused over the name "Ring-Necked" when there is no apparent ring on the duck's neck.  This photo captures the hint of a ring that is the genesis of the name.

Here the "ring" can be seen as a reddish spot on the front of the neck.  But what caught my eye here are the reflections - the forest green and olive of the evergreen trees in the background reflected in the gently-undulating waves of the pond, and the blue of the sky seen in the duck's bow wave and wake.

Your daily Merganser is a Red-Breasted.