Harlequin Duck

A few days ago I had an outstanding afternoon with a wintering flock of Harlequin Ducks in central New Jersey. With some patience they allowed close approach and were in halfway decent light. Harlequins are rough surf specialists, as their preferred habitat is rocky coastlines that are repeatedly battered by large waves. A study of this species indicated that an extremely high percentage have healed fractures from close encounters with waves and rocks. These ducks are tough.

Barnegat Lighthouse State Park
Barnegat Light, New Jersey

March 17, 2011