Showing posts with label american coots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label american coots. Show all posts

Friday, May 18, 2012

Spectacular Sunsets at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake, Dallas

If you live in Dallas, Texas and you want to unwind after a stressful day at work, go watch the sunset at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake. The sunsets are spectacular, and each day they are different as can be seen in the images below.

The image below was taken at Sunset Bay and shows Mallard Ducks taking off into the sunset.

Mallard Ducks taking off into the sunset at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX
Mallard Ducks taking off into the sunset at Sunset Bay

Sunset Bay is very sheltered and the waterfowl flock there most evenings. It’s officially classified as a wetland. Birders love Sunset Bay and for good reason - 175 birds have been identified in or near Sunset Bay.

The setting sun at White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
The setting sun ignites White Rock Lake

The image below presents a strange phenomenon. Downtown Dallas is approximately five miles away from White Rock Lake. So how do the buildings reflect in the lake? If anyone could explain that, we would be grateful.

The sunset at White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX with the city in the background
The tall buildings of downtown Dallas reflecting in White Rock Lake

In the above image, the setting sun gives the tall buildings of downtown Dallas a pinkish hue.

Each evening, the waterfowl congregate at Sunset Bay to feed. The bay also offers them a lot of protection against predators.

American Coots and Mallard ducks in Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake at sunset
American Coots and Mallard ducks in Sunset Bay at sunset

Sunset at White Rock Lake, Dallas
Sunset at White Rock Lake, Dallas

White Rock Lake, Dallas glows red as the sun sets
White Rock Lake glows red as the sun sets




The setting sun reflecting in White Rock Lake, Dallas
The setting sun reflecting in White Rock Lake

Waterfowl flock to Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake at sunset
Waterfowl flock to Sunset Bay at sunset


The evening sets in at White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
The evening sets in at White Rock Lake

Someone on the pier at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake, TX
Someone on the pier at Sunset Bay

The setting sun at White Rock Lake, Dallas, TX
The setting sun at White Rock Lake, Dallas

Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake as the sun begins to set for the night
Sunset Bay as the sun begins to set for the night


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Saturday, March 31, 2012

The Ducks and Waterfowl of White Rock Lake

If you’re an avid birder or simply enjoy watching ducks, then Sunset Bay at White Rock Lake in east Dallas is the place to be. This sheltered little bay is officially classified as a wetland, and harbors a multitude of colorful ducks and other water fowl. In fact, 175 birds have been identified in or near Sunset Bay so if you love bird watching, you can never go wrong visiting Sunset Bay.


Frequent visitors to White Rock Lake will know some of the birds by sight. These birds have characters all of their own, and one can even predict how they will react to a given situation. Many of the ducks come onshore to feed in the late afternoon. The image below shows an assortment of Mallards, Coots and a stunning Wood Duck in the bottom right corner.


Ducks feeding at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake in east Dallas
Ducks feeding onshore at Sunset Bay in the late afternoon

Muscovy Duck at White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
This Muscovy Duck has beautiful plumage

Male Mallard Ducks at White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas
Two male Mallard Ducks swimming alongside the pier in Sunset Bay

Female Mallard Duck at White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
A female Mallard Duck foraging for food at Sunset Bay

The Brown Chinese Goose below has the fattest belly imaginable, and it almost drags on the ground. From the look on the face of this goose, it does not like its picture taken.

Brown Chinese Goose at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
Brown Chinese Goose

Many of the ducks at White Rock Lake have stunning plumage, including the one below.

Duck with lovely plumage at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
Dunking Duck at Sunset Bay

A pair of Mallard Ducks at White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
This pair of Mallards were on the east shore of the lake

There are droves of American Coots at White Rock Lake. These noisy birds with enormous feet - look at the bird's feet below - are often seen feeding onshore all along the lake.

American Coots in Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
American Coots on a log, reflecting on life
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This Snow Goose, nicknamed the Lone Ranger, has been visiting White Rock Lake for quite some time. It's always alone and is often seen walking along the shore, pecking at food. Snow Geese breed in the Arctic Tundra, so visitors to the lake should consider themselves fortunate to have this straggler visit for so long.

Snow Goose, the Lone Ranger, at White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
Snow Goose, the Lone Ranger, patrolling the lake shore

There is also a Blue Goose resident at White Rock. These darker birds were considered a separate species, but are now believed to be a dark form (a morph) of the Snow Goose. The Blue Goose below was seen eating on shore at Sunset Bay. You will notice from the image that the goose is wearing two bands (rings). He was banded in Manitoba, Canada in 2003. He injured a wing when he became entangled with some fishing line at White Rock Lake and is now unfortunately unable to fly. 


As opposed to the the Lone Ranger, this Blue Goose has totally integrated with the other geese, and gets along well with his distant cousins.


Blue Goose at White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
A Blue Goose at Sunset Bay, White Rock Lake


Duck sleeping on the water at White Rock Lake, Dallas, Texas
This duck was taking a mid-afternoon nap


White Rock Lake is located in east Dallas, Texas.

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