What is it about black bellied whistling ducks that make us love them? Is it the pink beak? Is it the pink feet? Is it those beautiful brown, black and white wings? Is it the whistling noise they make? Is is the comical way they look and act? They have to be the cutest ducks out there. On a recent trip to Circle B Bar Reserve, in Lakeland, the marsh was full of them. Huge flocks would take off and circle around the marsh and land again. I could barely see them in the reeds but luckily as I headed down the trail, a handful of them flew up into the dead trees. They hung out there for a while showing off their best features. They were everywhere in the park. I haven’t seen them anywhere in the Tampa bay area so it’s a treat to see them here. Hopefully, the huge flocks will stay throughout the winter.

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