HomeBack The Howland Picture Pages: Northern Shoveler

Page by Royce
Last update: $Date: 2004/01/28 04:53:55 $ (UTC)

The Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) is a medium-sized dabbling duck common through-out Alberta and much of the rest of North America. The Shoveler uses its spoon-like bill to sift through shallow waters and mud looking for food, which may include plants or insects. While females at a casual or distant glance may pass for a number of other ducks, the male is quite distinctive in coloration. A good look at the large, broad bill is a sure fire identification tip -- the Shoveler has the largest and heaviest bill of all the dabbling ducks. Shovelers also can be marked by a yellow eye (males) and vivid, orange legs and feet.

Resources where you can find out more:

"Check out these crazy feet!"

Saturday May 31, 2003, I was looking for an uncommon Alberta sighting, a Fulvous Whistling-Duck that was seen in the northeast area of the city in a prairie slough. In addition to the Whistling-Duck and a Cinnamon Teal, I spotted this Northern Shoveler. Shovelers are common sights, but I always enjoy seeing these colorful dabblers.

This one tried out a standing spot used earlier by the Teal, so I obliged by snapping a few frames. Yes, the orange feet really are almost electric!

This shot was taken with a digiscoping rig at a distance of about 70m.

EXIF 2.2 photo info:

  • 320 x 344 true color
  • Exposure time: 1/197.60
  • F-stop: 3.6
  • ISO speed: 100
  • Focal length: 23.7000 (plus Pentax PF-80EDA scope & ScopeTronix MaxView 40 eyepiece)
  • Exposure mode: Auto
  • White balance: Auto
  • Exposure bias: 0.0000
  • Metering mode: Center Weighted
  • Exposure program: Normal
  • Gain control: None
  • Contrast: Normal
  • Saturation: High
  • Sharpness: Hard
  • Camera make: NIKON
  • Camera model: E5700

"I'm normally quite dignified."

Here is another digiscoped shot of the Shoveler. You can really see the size of the bill here.

EXIF 2.2 photo info:

  • 320 x 349 true color
  • Exposure time: 1/197.40
  • F-stop: 3.6
  • ISO speed: 100
  • Focal length: 23.7000 (plus Pentax PF-80EDA scope & ScopeTronix MaxView 40 eyepiece)
  • Exposure mode: Auto
  • White balance: Auto
  • Exposure bias: 0.0000
  • Metering mode: Center Weighted
  • Exposure program: Normal
  • Gain control: None
  • Contrast: Normal
  • Saturation: High
  • Sharpness: Hard
  • Camera make: NIKON
  • Camera model: E5700

HomeBack

Copyright Notice

Unless stated otherwise, all photos and other content on these pages is copyright © 2002 - 2003 by Royce Howland.

Please don't steal anything for your own purposes, in particular if you have a plan for making fabulous stacks of cash in so doing. If you would like to use a photo or other content you find here, or just want to contact us about something, please send email to royce@3ge.com.