Gorgeous male Ruddy Ducks

There were a number of Ruddy Ducks at Lake Meredith yesterday and all the males I saw were in their very colorful Alternate (breeding) plumage including the two in these pics. Their bills are such a nice blue color that stands out even against the blue color of the water.

Known as stiff-tailed ducks, this is due to their long black and indeed a stiff tail that is best seen in the lower pic. Sometimes they will swim with their tails stuck up in the air, a characteristic that can be used in identification.
SeEtta