Gift From the Sky

I was hunkered in marsh grass in Interior Alaska last week, watching trumpeter swans, when this little drake landed in front of me. It's a green-winged teal, North America's smallest dabbling duck, a bird typically weighing between 6 and 17 ounces.

I recall seeing and documenting in my head my first drake green-winged teal sometime in the early 1970s. Profoundly impressed by the birds' beauty, I still consider them one of Alaska's prettiest migratory birds.

So, that evening last week somewhere south of Tok, this little gem appeared, dropping in like a gift from the clouds. Thick, late-evening light combined with scattered showers to create a tranquil mood. I fired away, savoring the moment, knowing full well how lucky I was.