Sunday, December 13, 2015

Birding, Radnor Lake

All year I tried to get out to Radnor Lake in southwest Nashville to hike the Lake Trail, but timing was never on my side. Most of our Summer was very very oppressively hot. I missed Spring at Radnor and I had planned on getting out to the lake for Fall, but it never happened mainly because of the rainy Fall we encountered here in Tennessee. Today I made the drive over to the lake and as luck would have it the weather was perfect with temps in the 70's and a brisk wind that kept me cooled off as I made the three mile hike around the parameter of the lake.


As I walked the Lake Trail I first encountered this Ring Necked Duck, a Life List bird for me, perched quietly on a log near the bank. I snapped a few images and moved on.


A short distance away I happened upon what looked like the rest of the flock of Ring Neck Ducks swimming close to the bank also. There were males and females alike. The females are brown and tan while the males are black and white. Ring Neck Ducks have a smaller compact body with two toned wings and a ring around their bills too. Their breeding grounds are in the very far northern eastern United States and most of Canada. They travel as far south as Tennessee in Winter. They like small ponds and smaller lakes which is no doubt the reason I found them on Radnor.


Radnor Lake is a state park and has 1200 acres including the lake. With its close proximity to downtown Nashville and situated right smack dab in the middle of suburbia, Radnor is very popular with families and couples. Getting a parking space is not an easy feat, as I've tried in the past and couldn't get in. I think the holidays had a few folks out shopping which left the park with not as many visitors. I can't wait to get out to Radnor in Spring and Summer to see all of the greenery. I hope you had a wonderful weekend. ENJOY!

Linking to Saturday's Critters and Wild Bird Wednesday

3 comments :

  1. Hello, awesomse shots of the Ring-necked Ducks. You have some pretty closeups. The lake sounds like a great place to visit year round. Have a happy week!

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  2. Great shots of these ducks - they look a little more cooperative than some!!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  3. If ever a bird was misnamed it is Ring-necked Duck.

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