Getting my ducks in a row

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Getting my ducks in a row

January 2, 2014 by Mike Powell

The title for this visual pun immediately came to mind when I first saw the photo—I can’t help myself when it comes to puns.

For the record, the colorful duck in the foreground is a male Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) and the two in the background are male Green-Winged Teals (Anas carolinensis).

As the new year begins, should I be getting my ducks in a row?

Posted in Birds, Humor, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Alexandria VA, Anas carolinensis, Anas clypeata, Canon 50D, Canon 70-300mm telephoto zoom lens, Green-winged teal, Huntley Meadows Park, Northern Shoveler | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on January 2, 2014 at 9:44 pm | Reply Katherine Wikoff

Ha, I love your puns 🙂
on January 2, 2014 at 9:53 pm | Reply Nina Liakos

You seem to have already gotten them nicely lined up, so I wouldn’t worry!
I wish you had been along with me in Seneca Creek State Park recently because I’ve been seeing ducks I don’t recognize on the lake, but they are too far for me to get a really good look and of course I have no zoom lens on my camera. I am pretty sure some are buffleheads and once I thought maybe one was a hooded merganser. I need a professional (or better binoculars!).
- on January 3, 2014 at 5:39 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I’m pretty familiar with Hooded Mergansers, but have never seen a bufflehead. Last winter I became acquainted with a number of different duck species, but am far from an expert. A lot of the birders I see have serious optics (binoculars and/or spotting scopes). Like photographers, they all wish they had just a bit more reach.
on January 3, 2014 at 4:40 am | Reply purerealestateteam2013

Hi there, You have done an incredible job.
- on January 3, 2014 at 5:36 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. I was trying to get a shot of the Northern Shoveler and things kind of just fell together for the shot.
on January 3, 2014 at 6:29 am | Reply New Hampshire Gardener

I just discovered that nobody seems to know where or why that phrase originated, but you’ve illustrated it perfectly.
on January 3, 2014 at 1:09 pm | Reply krikitarts

You’re off to a great start, Mike and this shot fills the bill quite nicely.
on January 4, 2014 at 3:04 am | Reply Rick

Picture of the Day: A Natural
- on January 4, 2014 at 5:47 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Oh, no. There are others who share my twisted sense of humor. Thanks.