Wood Duck at Reid Park!

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Monday morning, February 13th we headed off to Reid Park, one corner of a large piece of Tucson city land  that occupies most of the block south of Broadway and North of 22nd, east of Country Club, and west of Alvernon Way. See the map to the right. It is home of the Reid Park Zoo, the Randolph Golf Complex, and the park. The park itself sits at the south-west corner of Country Club and 22nd, and can be entered from the north side of 22nd or the east side of Country Club. We parked close to the ponds in hunt of birds.  

We got a tip from a fellow birder/photographer that a single Wood Duck was hanging out on the south side of the larger pond, beneath the large trees that occupy a small hill associated with a series of waterfalls. I spotted the duck climbing the hill toward the water feature, and was able to take a front row seat as he took his morning bath. 

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These are beautiful ducks, that live in wooded swamps where they nest in tree holes.  Unlike most ducks they have claws that allow them to navigate the forest and grab branches. Below is a detail of the first frame in this post that shows the claws. 

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Wood Ducks winter in New Mexico, southern Texas, S.E. Arizona and throughout Mexico. We are lucky to be on the western edge of their winter grounds.  Drop by Reid Park and see if you can spot him! 

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