Blue-Winged Teal
Spatula discors
The Blue-Winged Teal breeds across most of the USA and Canada, except the Southwest and Southeast USA. As breeding habitat, they prefer sparsely covered prairies and parkland. During winter months, they migrate south and stay in fresh or brackish marshes and lakes. Their winter range extends from the North American coastlines and the south USA states, Mexico, Central America and northern South America. Texas hosts a non-migrating population of Blue-Winged Teal.
These dabblers are abundant in North America. Only the Mallard has a larger population. Females build their nests in well-concealed places, usually hidden from view from all directions, including from above. After reaching the breeding grounds, it may take days to decide on a proper nesting site. The male stands guard while the hen explores the area for a suitable site. Blue-Winged Teals spend less time on the breeding grounds than most dabblers, heading north late and leaving early.
Science does not recognize any subspecies of Blue-Winged Teal (i.e. they are monotypic).
I once met a hen in the Canadian Yukon with a half-dozen ducklings in tow. When I visited Texas, Blue-Winged Teals were one of the more common dabbling ducks in the region. Whether in the marshes on South Padre Island, or the resacas at Sabal Palm Sanctuary, these sharp-dressed ducks were well represented in the region.
37 Photos
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 15:04 |
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Location:
J-Street |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/400 |
File Name: D3X1181-BlueWingedTeal |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Female at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 15:05 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1000 |
File Name: D3X1195-BlueWingedTeal-Female |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 15:05 |
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Location:
J-Street |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X1201-BlueWingedTeal |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Male at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 15:05 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X1204-BlueWingedTeal |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Famosa Slough. Northern Point Loma, San Diego, California 2008-09-20. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:20 7:49 |
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Location:
Famosa Slough |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/250 |
File Name: jcd1222BlueWingedTeal |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Famosa Slough. Northern Point Loma, San Diego, California 2008-09-20. |
Date Taken: 2008:09:20 7:49 |
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Location:
Famosa Slough |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/160 |
File Name: jcd1228BlueWingedTeal |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Drake on the San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 16:17 |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD5945.BlueWingedTeal |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 16:21 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600 |
File Name: JCD5973.BlueWingedTeal |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Blue-Winged Teal(Anas discors) |
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Description: Dempster Highway, Blackstone River Area, Yukon, Canada. |
Date Taken: 2005:06:28 20:57 |
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Location:
Blackstone Valley |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 280 mm, f/5.6, 1/60 |
File Name: JCD6417BlueWingedTealFamily |
| © 2005 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: San Diego River flood control channel. San Diego, California 2010-01-08. |
Date Taken: 2010:01:08 15:02 |
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Location:
Robb Field |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD5690.BlueWingedTeal |
| © 2010 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Juvenile at the mouth of the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2014:09:23 11:44 |
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Location:
San Luis Rey Rivermouth |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: D3X0308-BlueWingedTeal |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Female at Chula Vista Bayfront Park, Chula Vista, California. San Diego County. |
Date Taken: 2012:04:24 8:22 |
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Location:
Bayfront Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/640 |
File Name: D3X0826-BlueWingedTeal |
| © 2012 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: The only ducks I saw my first day at Heron Flats were Blue-Winged Teals. I drove to Aransas NWR late Saturday, but my first serious explorations were on Sunday, when I fell in love with Heron Flats, though my explorations carried me all the way to the "Big Tree" tower. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:15 15:03 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/2500 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D500746-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: I called this group of Blue-Winged Teals "The Suitors". One hen with four drakes in tow, wherever she went, they were quick to follow. I drove to Aransas NWR late Saturday, but my first serious explorations were on Sunday, when I fell in love with Heron Flats, though my explorations carried me all the way to the "Big Tree" tower. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:15 15:03 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/3200 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D500758-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: I called this group of Blue-Winged Teals "The Suitors". One hen with four drakes in tow, wherever she went, they were quick to follow. I drove to Aransas NWR late Saturday, but my first serious explorations were on Sunday, when I fell in love with Heron Flats, though my explorations carried me all the way to the "Big Tree" tower. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:15 15:04 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D500766-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: I called this group of Blue-Winged Teals "The Suitors". One hen with four drakes in tow, wherever she went, they were quick to follow. I drove to Aransas NWR late Saturday, but my first serious explorations were on Sunday, when I fell in love with Heron Flats, though my explorations carried me all the way to the "Big Tree" tower. |
Date Taken: 2020:03:15 15:04 |
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Location:
Aransas NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D500, 550 mm, f/7.1, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D500775-Aransas-NWR |
| © 2020 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Aside from the Whistling Ducks and the Mottled Ducks, these teal were the only dabblers I saw at the marsh. My Monday visit to South Padre Island lasted all day. The morning was slow for bird meetings, but the afternoon was better at the SPI Convention Center. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:01 15:21 |
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Location:
Convention Center |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X7263-SouthPadreIsland-TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Dabblers in the resaca included Gadwall and Blue-Winged Teal. It was ten days earlier when I paid my first visit to the Sabal Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville Texas. I tried to explore trails I missed last time here. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:28 10:26 |
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Location:
Sable Palms Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X5622-SabalPalms |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Blue-Winged Teals seem to be the most common inland winter duck in south Texas. Sabal Palm Sanctuary is only five miles from where I camp in Brownsville. My last visit was late January 2021 and felt it was time to get reacquainted. I couldn’t have picked a better day. There was glorious weather and wonderful birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:19 10:48 |
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Location:
Sabal Palm Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X3854-SabalPalmSanctuary |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Blue-Winged Teals seem to be the most common inland winter duck in south Texas. Sabal Palm Sanctuary is only five miles from where I camp in Brownsville. My last visit was late January 2021 and felt it was time to get reacquainted. I couldn’t have picked a better day. There was glorious weather and wonderful birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:19 10:48 |
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Location:
Sabal Palm Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X3843-SabalPalmSanctuary |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Blue-Winged Teal may be the most common dabbler I found in Texas. Hurricane Harvey, in 2017, hit Port Aransas (Texas) hard. The beginning stages of rebuilding the Port Aransas Nature Center’s boardwalk began with a 1500' footpath, but there are plans to extend it to about three miles. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:28 8:32 |
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Location:
Port Aransas Nature Preserve |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X6615-PortAransas_TX |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Blue-Winged Teal are common winter ducks in south Texas. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 11:06 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X0361SouthPadre-WBC |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Blue-Winged Teal are common winter ducks in south Texas. There are wetlands that the South Padre Island Convention Centre (free access) and the Birding & Nature Center (admission fee required) share. My previous visits to the wetlands had been to the Convention Centre. On this day I would find out why folks pay money to see the marsh, when there is free access next door. |
Date Taken: 2021:02:08 11:07 |
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Location:
South Padre Island WBC |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X0393SouthPadre-WBC |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Blue-Winged Teals seem to be the most common inland winter duck in south Texas. Sabal Palm Sanctuary is only five miles from where I camp in Brownsville. My last visit was late January 2021 and felt it was time to get reacquainted. I couldn’t have picked a better day. There was glorious weather and wonderful birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:19 10:48 |
|
Location:
Sabal Palm Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X3846-SabalPalmSanctuary |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Not all Blue-Winged Teals migrate. The Texan Rio Grande Valley is on location where some remain all year and even breed. Only 5 miles from my camp in Brownsville (Texas), I paid a brief, 3+ hour visit to this sanctuary on this foggy damp morning. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:26 9:13 |
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Location:
Sabal Palm Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X5417-SabalPalms |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Not all Blue-Winged Teals migrate. The Texan Rio Grande Valley is on location where some remain all year and even breed. Only 5 miles from my camp in Brownsville (Texas), I paid a brief, 3+ hour visit to this sanctuary on this foggy damp morning. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:26 9:33 |
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Location:
Sabal Palm Sanctuary |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/250 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X5457-SabalPalms |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: During my two-day stay in Cody Wyoming, I paid two visits to nearby Alkali Lake and enjoyed the waterfowl, shorebirds, and gulls I met there. |
Date Taken: 2022:05:17 9:32 |
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Location:
Alkali Lake |
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Camera Information: NIKON D850, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_8501457-Cody-AlkaliLake |
| © 2022 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: On this part of the Texas coast, these teals may remain year round. I broke camp at High Island early Monday and set a course for nearby Anahuac National Wildlife Reserve. There are several roads to explore there, but I chose the loop around Shoveler Pond. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:08 10:09 |
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Location:
Anahuac NWR |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X0796-Anahuac_NWR |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Blue-Winged Teals seem to be the most common inland winter duck in south Texas. Sabal Palm Sanctuary is only five miles from where I camp in Brownsville. My last visit was late January 2021 and felt it was time to get reacquainted. I couldn’t have picked a better day. There was glorious weather and wonderful birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:03:19 10:46 |
|
Location:
Sabal Palm Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X3837-SabalPalmSanctuary |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Dabblers in the resaca included Gadwall and Blue-Winged Teal. It was ten days earlier when I paid my first visit to the Sabal Palm Sanctuary in Brownsville Texas. I tried to explore trails I missed last time here. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:28 11:04 |
|
Location:
Sable Palms Sanctuary |
|
Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X5663-SabalPalms |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Sometimes bathing seems like pure joy. I spent Friday exploring a jewel of birding in south Texas; Estero Llano Grande State Park. I couldn’t visit this place last spring because of the pandemic. It is a wonderful place to meet birds. |
Date Taken: 2021:01:22 13:51 |
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Location:
Estero Llano Grande State Park |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/11.0, 1/1000 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_D5X4359-EsteroLlano |
| © 2021 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
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Description: Nearby Linwood is the college town of Lawrence Kansas. On the southern boundary of the town are some marshes and shallow lakes. I paid a brief visit to one called the Haskell Wetlands. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:22 7:47 |
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Location:
Haskell Wetlands |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_ZX95024_HaskellWetlands-KS |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Nearby Linwood is the college town of Lawrence Kansas. On the southern boundary of the town are some marshes and shallow lakes. I paid a brief visit to one called the Haskell Wetlands. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:22 7:42 |
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Location:
Haskell Wetlands |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_ZX94965_HaskellWetlands-KS |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Nearby Linwood is the college town of Lawrence Kansas. On the southern boundary of the town are some marshes and shallow lakes. I paid a brief visit to one called the Haskell Wetlands. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:22 7:34 |
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Location:
Haskell Wetlands |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_ZX94926_HaskellWetlands-KS |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Nearby Linwood is the college town of Lawrence Kansas. On the southern boundary of the town are some marshes and shallow lakes. I paid a brief visit to one called the Haskell Wetlands. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:22 7:24 |
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Location:
Haskell Wetlands |
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Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_ZX94858_HaskellWetlands-KS |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Nearby Linwood is the college town of Lawrence Kansas. On the southern boundary of the town are some marshes and shallow lakes. I paid a brief visit to one called the Haskell Wetlands. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:22 7:23 |
|
Location:
Haskell Wetlands |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_ZX94835_HaskellWetlands-KS |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Blue-Winged Teal(Spatula discors) |
|
Description: Nearby Linwood is the college town of Lawrence Kansas. On the southern boundary of the town are some marshes and shallow lakes. I paid a brief visit to one called the Haskell Wetlands. |
Date Taken: 2023:04:22 7:23 |
|
Location:
Haskell Wetlands |
|
Camera Information: NIKON Z 9, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: BlueWingedTeal_ZX94816_HaskellWetlands-KS |
| © 2023 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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