Hi everyone! Today, a pair of Black-bellied Whistling Ducks landed behind my house. I am in Kaufman County, TX (30 miles SE of Dallas). I had just enough time to run for my digital camera and take this snapshot. Thank goodness for the zoom feature! The took off the second they spotted me! I had to hide behind a Wisteria to get this one! It was my first time seeing this kind of bird and I was so excited! They were gorgeous! Has anyone else seen these birds this far north?
Their legs were sort of a pink color from what I could tell. I was pretty far away from them when I took the picture. Didn't even realize they had grey heads until I looked at the pics! Or, maybe I was just so excited about getting a good pic before they flew away,,,,which they did,,,,about 10 seconds later!
I'm not sure how far north Black-bellied Whistling ducks normally get. The TEXBIRDS Listserv is a good place to ask questions like this. Here is a link to this month's archives: http://listserv.uh.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A1...=D&H=0&D=1&T=1
To ask a question about birds in Texas you send an email to texbirds@listserv.uh.edu . Your email and the replies will show up in this months archive (I avoid subscribing to the forum - too many emails!!).
I LOVE the noise whistling ducks make - never get tired of it.
I saw 2 just yesterday. I live on Lake Palestine by Chandler, TX (near Tyler)
I had never seen them before and I had to look them up in my bird book. I took some bad photos of them. I couldn't get close enough even with my zoom. They were going from boat house to boat house eating bugs.
I was wondering the same thing as you, if they normally come this far North. Did you ever find out if they do?
I saw 2 yesterday on Lake Palestine near Tyler. I had never seen them before either. I however did not get good photos of them at all. Couldn't get close enough even with my zoom. Did you find out if it is normal for them to be up this far?
I am in southwest Virginia, and today I have a flock of 16 black bellied whistling ducks on my pond, some within 30 feet of my front yard. I am not mistaken, and very surprised! I live about 30 miles inland from the Atlantic shoreline.
Location: Sulphur Springs ,Tx( NE Tx,100 mi E of Dallas
Posts: 2
Re: Black-bellied Whistling Ducks near Dallas?
We live in Hopkins County,about 100 mi E. of Dallas and N.E.of you.I just contacted the TPW about this.WE have had 6 on our pond for 3 days now. i have videos of them and pics also.4 just flew off and havent returned yet.The other 2 are somewhat shy.We figured they all got lost,since the bird book doesnt show a migration pattern for them.Matbe they got blown up here by that storm last week.The two that are here now are definitely a pair.The male chased off any that got close.We put out feed for our ducks and geese and the whistlers went after it.Those 2 today swam to within about 20 feet of me but were very wary until I backed off,then they came out and ate.They do whistle LOUD when they fly off.We have another pair of whistling ducks(domestic)that may have attracted them.I have never heard of them being this far North .Wish TPW would e-mail me back.I have definits proof they are here.(about 30 pics and some video2-3 minutes in and out of the water.)
Location: Sulphur Springs ,Tx( NE Tx,100 mi E of Dallas
Posts: 2
Re: Black-bellied Whistling Ducks near Dallas?
Well today is the 10th of April and our blackbellied whistlers are still with us.Two stay on our pond and the rest come and go but are here at feeding time.The pair have let me get within about 30 ft of them but are still wary.They wont stay still long enough to get a good picture.I want to get them out of the water so I can see their legs in the pic.Hope they are nesting somewhere close.Or will be.Dont know about the others,only see them late afternoons when we feed our regulars.
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks near Dallas?
Re: Black-bellied Whistling Ducks near Dallas?
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