Today was definitely a ducky day because I captured several good pictures of a Blue-winged Teal, a small dabbling duck. Yesterday two birders, walking along the edge of the bog in Chagrin River Park, told me where they had spotted the Teal. I looked and looked, without success, but today, when I wasn’t even looking for it, there it was, or rather, there they were: a pair of Blue-winged Teals, practically right under my feet and just where my birding friends saw them yesterday.
My iBird app says that Blue-winged Teals “prefer ecosystems that are moist or wet, such as wetlands, intertidal, coastal, or supra tidal marine areas, or wet grasslands areas.” The bog in Chagrin River Park, although not large, definitely fits the description of this bird’s preferred habitat. I also read that the global population of the Blue-winged Teal is estimated at about 6,100,000 individuals. I only saw two Teal, but it was enough to make my day.
A group of teal can be called by many names, including a coil, topping, knob, paddling, and a spring of teal. Someone with a good imagination must come up with those names. Here are a few more pictures of the Teals:
SEEN ALONG THE TRAIL 
Wonderful shots of those Blue winged teals.
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Thanks, Mike. I was surprised and delighted to see a duck that wasn’t a mallard. I hope they hang around for awhile.
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We get to see a variety of ducks in the winter but as spring marches on they all leave and mallards are all that is left on the ponds. It is always so much fun to see other species and I hope your guys stay around a bit. Have a great day.
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Always such a thrill to capture something new or that you don’t see very often! Beautiful shots. You are so blessed having this wonderful park on your doorstep!
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You’re right about that, Pam. According to the numbers, it is the most popular park in Lake County.
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