Geese, Gulls and Ducks

Domestic Chinese Swan Goose - Anser cygnoides

Yesterday afternoon I went to meet up with a walking group at Commonwealth Park. Only two other people showed and the walk was rather short. If I'd driven there I would have been disappointed. Fortunately I rode the bike, so I got my exercise anyway.

Domestic Greylag Goose - Anser anser

Commonwealth Park is a neighborhood park and the habitat is not very natural, but it's fairly large so a mixture of wild and semi-domestic birds congregate there.

There were large flocks of Canada Geese there, but also these others that must have been domestic at some point.

Ring-Billed Gull - Larus delawarensis

There were 4 or 5 of these interesting gulls. They were smaller, and less agressive than the kind we usually see at the beach.

Close up of the banded beak.

Unfortunately a lot of people feed the birds even though there are signs in both English and Spanish saying not to.

In any case, this gull let me get quite close to him, even though I didn't have any food.

Young Gull

I couldn't be sure of the species of this bird, but he could be a Ring-Billed Gull like the others. At first I thought he must be something else because of the dark beak and feet. However he looks a lot like this picture.

Male Mallard - Anas platyryhnchos

Apparently most domesticated ducks are descended from Mallards, so they can mate and produce all types of hybrids.

100% genetic Mallards can also have strange colors, like this one I saw yesterday. Check out this site to learn more.

Female Mallard - Anas platyryhnchos

This little bird started following an old man down the path. She must have thought he had something good in his pockets.

Another female Mallard

Domestic duck

Still, more or less a Mallard. This one had joined the flock.

Another picture of the domestic white duck

Male American Wigeon - Anas american

I think this was the first time I had seen this kind of duck. They make a very cute whistling sound instead of quack. You can listen to it here.

Female American Wigeon - Anas american

More Wigeons

Common Merganser - Mergus merganser

These birds seemed the least tame and stayed the farthest from shore. I think this one is a female.

More mergansers