If you're a birder, you'll know what a life list is. It's basically a list of all the bird species one has observed and positively ID'd in one's lifetime. This blog is a record of my "critter" life list (mostly of birds), including photos I've taken over the years, some of the actual lifer if I was lucky enough to get the shot. Don't expect National Geographic quality stuff here, just the work of an amateur photog who loves to trudge out into nature.

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)


3/9/02 Malibu Creek Lagoon (off trail from Cross Creek Rd across PCH), 
Malibu Creek State Park, Los Angeles County, CA 
11/3/02 San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine, Orange County, CA
12/11/10 Lake Elsinore (off of the levee), Riverside County, CA
3/20/10 Main vernal pool, Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve,
Murrieta, SW Riverside County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Northern Shoveler

SPECIES: Anas clypeata

LIFE LIST DATE: 2/24/2002

LOCATION: San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside County, CA

From Stokes Field Guide to Birds: Western Region

IDENTIFYING MARKS: 19"; long bill widens considerably at the tip. Male: dark green head; white breast; reddish brown flanks. Eclipse plumage is similar to female's but with darker back and more reddish-brown breast and flanks. Female: a brown-streaked duck with a spatula-shaped bill that is gray on top and orange along the opening. 

VOICE: Females do quacking and a decrescendo call of 5 notes, with the 1st note loudest. Male gives a low took-a note during courtship.
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