Not All Ducks Are Mallards

I stopped by the Helen Carlson Bog this morning. It used to be a cranberry bog but over the years beavers flooded it and altered the habitat.

Sometimes people passing by and ask me what I'm seeing. People who aren't into birding may lump all ducks into one category and generally just assume I'm talking about Mallards. When I pointed out these Ring-necked Ducks to a neighbor they were surprised they didn't have a green head like a male mallard or mostly brown color of the female. One of the nice things about birding is being able to point out something new about birds to the casual observer but only in small doses.  Too much   information at once can spoil the moment.