Around Fremont County

Yesterday I watched what appeared to be a pair of Bald Eagles flying together over the Arkansas River near Canon City. For awhile they perched together, not more than 15 feet or so apart which is quite close for raptors. Though Bald Eagles are known to roost communily in winter, it is thought that this species may pair-up or stay together during the winter so this flying together might indicate that these are a pair.

Today I drove out to Brush Hollow Reservoir. As there have been some days with pretty nice temps over 45 degrees F this week (including the 70 degree day)I thought there would be more open water. There was, but only a little more. However I did find a small mixed group of Redheads, Mallards and a Ring-necked Duck near the shore where the water was not frozen around some vegetation. I took this photo there.

I also heard a small flock of Pinyon Jays, but they were distant. Brush Hollow is one of the places where this illusive species is seen though not regularly.
SeEtta

See the ring around the Ring-necked Duck's neck

The Ring-necked Duck actually has a ring, albeit a partial ring, around its neck that is rarely seen. It is visible in several of my photos, probably best in this pic. Birds of North America online describe it as "> . .dark chestnut collar around lower neck. . . ." The Smithsonian Handbooks Birds of North America-Western Region describes it as a cinnamon ring. It almost looks reddish or purplish (maybe cranberry would describe it) to me.

Though the duck's head gets a little blurry when it is enlarged, it still helps see the neck ring by double-clicking on the photo.

SeEtta

SeEtta

More Ring-necked Duck pics

The top photo of the Ring-neck Duck I photographed at Pueblo Res yesterday shows the details of the bill-a white edging around the base of the bill, white around the nostrils (called nares), the white band then the black tip. The eye is a bright yellowish orange.


In the lower pic the duck had just lifted its bill out of the water. I caught a few drops of water dripping from its bill.
SeEtta