One of my favorite birds is the green-winged teal. They are beautiful small ducks that migrate here every winter. While green-winged teal are a common species, they can be difficult to find because they prefer smaller shallow ponds with plenty of cover. Last year we were dealing with the high water left over from hurricane Ian which created numerous areas for them to inhabit that were inaccessible for us. So, we had virtually no good photo opportunities all season.
But this year we found a park near St. Petersburg where a modest flock has taken up residence for the winter months with a group of blue-winged teal. Thankfully, they have been close enough to shore for some good pictures. The duckweed that they enjoy seems plentiful so hopefully they will stick around for a few more weeks.
Follow the links for more information on these pretty little ducks.
- https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green-winged_Teal/overview#
- https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/green-winged-teal
A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, please visit the gallery listed.