Northern Shoveler

(Anas clypeata)

Where: Merritt Island, FL • Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR)

Notes: On our venture to Florida this past spring, we has a pretty quiet day at Merritt Island NWR. But the birds we did see, we had quality opportunities to photograph. Along one of the inner ponds there was a small, mixed group of ducks comprised of Shovelers, Blue-winged Teal and Lesser Scaup. They all seemed to have interest in a small plot of sand that rose just an inch or two above the water surface. It was only about three or four feet across at its widest and was only about fifteen feet from the shore. So, I set up a folding chair behind a little cover and sat motionless for a while. Sure enough the ducks came trickling in. I had to be careful not to swing the lens around too fast, as the three different species each came in from different directions. It was nice to get a few shots of these paddlers swimming towards me, instead of the usual posterior view that is more the norm.