Ducking the Heat!

It's been HOT! More humid than anything...but that makes it so uncomfortable to be outdoors where I love to be so I've been a couch potato.  I have been doing most of my outdoor chores, get it done as early as I can ...meanwhile I'm back to receiving the ABA rare bird alerts for my area...and one came over  that I watched for a few days....it was a bit of a drive but with the AC blasting in the van I figure may as well make the drive, get off the couch for a day, so on the eve of the 4th, away I did go.

 

North up I-26 which they call East and West, so  I guess we must drive West...to get to North Carolina, about 37 miles over the border near Asheville.  It was a bit cooler, or less humid I should say.  (90 degrees) If you've visited or ever heard of the Biltmore Mansion, and the Biltmore Forest, right along the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains, that's where I was.  My target area was Julian Lake Park...it's a nice park on the banks of the Julian Lake, there's picnic areas, a playground, fishing pier, a dock for boats, and plenty of Ducks and Geese!

My target bird was actually a duck! But while looking for him I saw this....an Egyptian Goose!  Wow. check out these feathers. 

Egyptian Goose

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And those PINK legs...what a surprise, I had not seen him reported...so I was happy to see one here.  

These ducks and geese are wild, but they are also well cared for, I must explain.  They live the life of normal waterfowl, they have predators, they are free to come or go but why would they go when they are being fed?  I met one of the volunteers...and she explained that there is a group of benefactors who come and feed the ducks and geese that call this lake home. 

I walked around with this lady who is one of the volunteers that feeds the waterfowl...

She took me over and I got to hand feed some of the Greylag Geese and the Muscovy they were so gentle when they took the pellets from our hands....and the Muscovy had 4 ducklings...so very cute.  This one eating up here is only a year old she is not the mother of the chicks, they may be her step siblings. 

And my first Indian Runner, a Domestic Duck, they walk upright like a penguin!  Here's one but he didn't walk for me he was enjoying a rest...Brown duck on the left 

I reported these as Greylag and Canada Goose Hybrids, 

And some others, 

I'd say this was def a hybrid too...

AND last but not least the target bird, this lone white cheeked pintail!  What a beautiful duck!  I didn't get to see him in the water wish now I had waited till he was ready for a swim, but he was more interested in resting after he foraged on the pellets the lady tossed out...

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This duck is much smaller than a mallard...

Look at the lovely feathering on his back...and he has this brilliant green wing stripe showing up here in this shot..

This is not a domestic duck, he is hanging out with a group of hand fed ducks and why not... he arrived wild and has settled in nicely....I don't know about his breeding code, but he sure is a fine looking duck.  The volunteer told me he has been living here on and off...he left when it got cold and returned in the spring.  It is a Neotropical species spottily distributed in South America and the Caribbean and a frequent visitor to marsh land in Florida...according to Cornell Lab.

A really fine day of ducking the heat!  I'm creeping up on 450, half my goal at half the year so my cup is half full!

PEACE

Every day is a new Adventure.