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Tundra Swan/Bald Eagle Tour, 2004 -- Ducks and Coots
  
On November 13, 2004 I went on a Tundra Swan/Bald Eagle viewing tour to Wabasha, MN and Nelson, WI. On the Wisconsin side we saw the swans, along with a few ducks and coots, seen below. On the Minnesota side we saw more swans, and bald eagles in flight and on the ground at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha. Though I wasn't able to get a shot of anything on the wing, I got some good shots of swans on the mud flats, and of two of the Center's three resident Bald Eagles, Columbia and Angel.


©2004 Xan Laurence

Male mallard



©2004 Xan Laurence

A very common pose with the waterfowl we saw


©2004 Xan Laurence

Another male mallard



©2004 Xan Laurence

Drake watches while duck grabs a bite to eat



©2004 Xan Laurence

Another hungry pair



©2004 Xan Laurence

Nice illustration of how the male stands out while the female blends into the background -- you can hardly tell her back end from the reflection of the dead grasses.


©2004 Xan Laurence

One lone pintail duck. All the time we were there it never turned to face us for a head-on shot



©2004 Xan Laurence

Pair of coots, also known as American mudhens



©2004 Xan Laurence

Another coot


©2004 Xan Laurence

There hardly seems enough depth for the coot to get its head that far down ...



©2004 Xan Laurence

Nice pose of a male coot


©2004 Xan Laurence

Trying to get a shot of the coots' strange gray feet, which hardly seem adequately webbed for a water bird


©2004 Xan Laurence

Trying for a closer shot of the feet


©2004 Xan Laurence

And closer ...
 
The only other bird I was able to get a good shot of was a Great Blue Heron, which we saw on the bus ride down.
 
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