Shoveler Duck

 

Many waterfowl are now wintering at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Ridgefield, Washington, north of Vancouver. In this and the next several posts I will show some of the special beauty which can be observed by driving in a car around the River S unit. The car serves as your observatioin blind, and people are not allowed to get out of their cars. That keeps the wildlife from being too spooked by the visitors and allows for some wonderful photo opportunities. This image shows some of the beautiful and intricate plumage detail as well as the filter feeding apparatus along the edge of the beak by which the bird filters small food items from the water as it swims with the beak submerged. The shape of this interesting beak gives the bird its name.

 
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Shoveler Duck, Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge

Landscapes, Columbia Gorge, Waterfalls, AutumnDuncan NeilsonColumbia Gorge, waterfalls, autumn color, nature photography, landscape photography