Glendale Recharge Ponds

Sitting. Thinking.

Pas de deux.

Assembly: A small flock of black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus), at the Glendale Recharge Ponds, Glendale, Arizona.

Please click photo for an enlarged view.

Female great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) in the reeds at the Glendale Recharge Ponds, Glendale, Arizona.

Great-tailed grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus

♂), preening and posing after a bath, at the Glendale Recharge Ponds, Glendale, Arizona.

Side by side.

Size comparison of a snowy egret (Egretta thula) and great egret (Ardea alba), at the Glendale Recharge Ponds, Glendale, Arizona.

Ruddy duck (Oxyura jamaicensis

♀), at the Glendale Recharge Ponds, Glendale, Arizona.

I love ruddies’ pert little tails and goofy grins.

Launch.

Great egret (Ardea alba) at the Glendale Recharge Ponds, Glendale, Arizona.

Male and female red-winged blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) on curly dock (Rumex crispus), at the Glendale Recharge Ponds, Glendale, Arizona.

The female (bottom photo) has just a slight hint of red epaulet feathers

― a field mark I had never noticed before taking this photo.

Glide path.

Black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) at the Glendale Recharge Ponds, Glendale, Arizona.