Muscovy Duck at Jonas Green Park

I arranged to meet Graeme at Greenbury Point this morning to try out his 1000mm Nikkor lens. It’s awesome, but it will take some practice to get sharp images.
I spent most of the time at Jonas Green, when the pickin’s were somewhat slim, but the light was good and I got some decent shots, including the Muscovy, which is a first for me.Muscovy Duck

Muscovy Duck

Wikipedia:
The Muscovy Duck (Cairina moschata) is a large duck native to Mexico, Central, and South America. Small wild and feral breeding populations have established themselves in the United States, particularly in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, as well as in many other parts of North America, including southern Canada. Feral Muscovy Ducks are found in New Zealand and have also been reported in parts of Europe.
They are a large duck, with the males measuring about 76 cm in length, and weighing up to 7 kg. Females are considerably smaller, and only grow to 3 kg, roughly half the males’ size. The bird is predominantly black and white, with the back feathers being iridescent and glossy in males, while the females are more drab. The amount of white on the neck and head is variable, as well as the bill, which can be yellow, pink, black, or any mixture of these. They may have white patches or bars on the wings, which become more noticeable during flight. Both sexes have pink or red wattles around the bill, those of the male being larger and more brightly colored.
Although the Muscovy Duck is a tropical bird, it adapts well to cooler climates, thriving in weather as cold as −12°C (10°F) and able to survive even colder conditions.[3][4] In general, Barbary Duck is the term used for C. moschata in a culinary context.”

Dark Eyed Junco

Dark Eyed Juncos were feeding in the grassy areas.

House Finch

House Finch

This female House Finch is the first I’ve seen at the park.

Downy Woodpecker

Several Downy Woodpeckers were flitting about the park.

Double Crested Cormorant

Fooling with Photoshop.

Double Crested Cormorant

Double Crested Cormorant at Dawn.

Crow

This Crow was declaiming loudly from the highest perch in the park.

Ring Billed Gull

Ring Billed Gulls often pass over the park.

Cooper's Hawk

This is likely the same Cooper’s Hawk I spooked yesterday. He may be roosting overnight under the old bridge.

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