Oxford Languages defines a bluenose as a “priggish or puritanical” individual. Oddly sufficient, it may additionally discuss with an individual from Nova Scotia. I believe that that is because of the chilly winters up there, relatively than suggesting that every one Nova Scotians are prudes.
However for birders, the title bluenose may extra smoothly be implemented to geese of the genus Oxyura. The six species on this genus are all prominent by way of having stiff tail feathers, regularly held upright in a form of butt-salute, and by way of the men carrying an much more fantastic brilliant blue invoice all the way through the breeding season. To my style, this makes those birds some of the maximum endearing geese in the market.
The North American consultant of this genus is the Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis. It’s generally an easily-seen resident at the deeper sections Lake Cuitzeo, a part hour from my house. However over the last 12 months, virtually the entire lake dried up, and what little water remained used to be most effective inches deep. So this diving duck fled to no matter deeper lakes remained; all the way through the primary part of 2024 I most effective controlled to look a handful on within sight Lake Queréndaro. Fortuitously, our monsoon rains have are available superbly this summer season, and this week a travel to look Lake Cuitzeo’s development published a bunch of 3 Ruddy Geese on its newly deepening waters.. Even higher, one of the most 3 used to be a respendent male with, sure, a brilliant blue invoice.
The still-low water ranges had driven those 3 geese nearer to the freeway from which I will be able to practice them, so those are my best possible footage up to now of a breeding male. On previous events I had regularly favored their brilliant expenses and stiff tails, as those are smoothly viewed even at a distance, and in any lights. However this used to be the primary time that closeness and just right gentle allowed me to comprehend the deep reddish-brown colour that give the Ruddy Duck its title.
And sure, each considered one of my footage (I took round 100) confirmed beads of the lake’s relatively muddy water at the backs of those geese. It regarded as though any individual had dripped sizzling glue on them. Water generally sheets off the backs of maximum geese, however the Ruddy Duck’s again it sounds as if holds the water in position. (Take a look at the drop caught to the duck’s brow on this image.)
All the way through the wintry weather, male Ruddy Geese lose their brilliant blue expenses. I suppose it’s hard to care for such sartorial finery.
This can be a wintry weather male. For glaring causes, it’s the most effective picture now not from this week.
As I discussed above, two extra people swam close to Monday’s lone grownup male. Their conduct indicated that the 3 shaped a circle of relatives unit.
Ruddy Duck #2
Ruddy Duck #3
Sadly, there’s no option to know whether or not those two had been women, or immature men. If those bluenoses are certainly puritanical and priggish, I for sure hope they weren’t a threesome.
