Northern Pintail Duck (Anas acuta)

Since I've been birding a little avidly over the last few months I have not been out to Esquimalt Lagoon where there is an actual bird sanctuary. It's about a twenty minute drive from Victoria. I went out there yesterday and although it was a dank, gray afternoon, I saw several birds I had not seen before, more than enough to make it a rich and memorable day. Above are a pair of Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Ducks, with the more brightly patterned male in the foreground. There were quite a few of these mixed in with Mallards, Scaup, Wigeons and some other waterfowl and shorebirds whose photos I will share over the next few days.