The last time I drove up to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, I was delighted to have this drake Gadwall in my viewfinder on the last leg of the auto tour loop.
Drake Gadwall at Bear River MBR – Nikon D500, f9, 1/1250, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Gadwalls are year-round residents in Utah, so it surprises me that I don’t have more photos of them in my galleries than I do. I think they are beautiful dabbling ducks, though.
They are more than “just brown ducks” in my opinion, and I do stop my Jeep to focus on them whenever I have the opportunity.
I find Gadwalls at Bear River MBR, Farmington Bay, at my local ponds, and the Jordan River when it is running slowly.
One of the things about Gadwalls that amuses me is that they will hang around American Coots and steal the aquatic vegetation that the coots bring to the surface of the water. The coots sometimes get bothered by them and become quite vocal about it.
There was a hen Gadwall swimming behind this drake, and by now they should be paired up. Female Gadwalls produce an egg a day while laying their 7 to 12 egg clutches and often nest on islands within marshes for protection from predators.
Gadwall populations are on the rise, unlike so many other bird species that are in decline.
What I like about this drake Gadwall photo is the eye contact, the reflection of the drake and the sky on the water, and the beautiful plumage of this duck.
It is a simple photo and I relish that simplicity. Life today is already too complicated for my tastes most of the time.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Gadwall photos plus facts and information about this species.
Simple and serene – what a glorious sight. And you are so right about the complicated life too many of us are forced to lead.
This is one duck that is highly underrated usually referred to as “Oh that gray duck over there”. But get that bird in a spotting scope and the “Ohhs and Ahhhs” begin. 🤗