Ring-necked Ducks

One of the great things about winter is the birds it brings.  Another is when the ice constrains divers and dabblers in a small area.  What is really great is when those constraining areas are accessible to the glass on your camera.

Today, it was the ice on McKenzie Reservoir in Wallingford, CT, that brought the Ring-necked Ducks within reach.  Ringnecks are normally more shy even than the mergansers, swimming away at the most remote approach.  Thus, the constraining ice is most helpful to the observer.

The first thing I notice about ringnecks is that they really don't appear to have rings around their necks.  How odd!  But, they do have a white, blue and black beak that is distinctive, and yellow eyes that pop against the purplish black of their heads.

My apologies for not having a Daily Merganser today.