Full Moon and a Ring-necked Duck

 

 

Tonight is The Full Snow Moon so called because the last snows and frosts of winter will begin to appear around this time.

Good Morning on this lovely Sunday morning. It's a mild day but cloudy so there's little chance we'll get to see the full moon tonight.  We had a pleasant walk and even managed to see a couple of ducks that we don't see often. I kept looking for a white ring on the Ring-necked duck but I read on line just now that the ring refers to its hard-to-see chestnut collar on its black neck. Isn't his beak (bill?) pretty?

(These pictures or from the internet)

Here's  more facts about this duck that I found interesting.

• During fall migration, Ring-necked Ducks can form immense flocks. Several hundred thousand congregate each fall on certain lakes in Minnesota to feed on wild rice.
  
  
• Ring-necked Ducks on their breeding grounds occasionally get attacked by the much larger Common Loon, the Red-necked Grebe, and even the much smaller Pied-billed Grebe.
  
  
• The oldest known Ring-necked Duck was a male and at least 20 years, 5 months old. He was banded in Louisiana in 1964 and shot in Minnesota in 1983.

I hope I haven't bored you. I don't have much to blog about today but I wanted to pop in to say Hello.

Thanks for coming by, GM

( About the problems I've been having with not being able to comment on some blogs...It is only on those blogs that have the dark rectangle with the words  Sign in with Google). And yes, I do have a google account.)