My non birding New Orleans fun is finished and I'm back in Texas to enjoy some time with friends at the Rio Grande Valley Bird Festival.
I had a brief love affair with a green-winged teal. I don't normally get the above view of a teal. Generally, they are fleeing from our plane when we count them. So to see a green-winged teal chilling in the evening sun was quite the treat.
At first glance, they may appear brown, but their heads rival any mallards with the rich rusty read accented by a swath of iridescent green behind the eye--like eye shadow gone wild. This is the smallest dabbling duck in North America, so besides the color, they are quite cute. They will forage for aquatic insects on the water's surface or dip below for vegetation.
This bird went into full on bathing mode while I was digiscoping it. I think I will let the photos speak for themselves.
After a good bathe, a nice preen is in order. I love this shot, you can see the green patch from where the teal gets its name.
And then a nap.
