Mallards are probably the easiest birds to photograph in North America. They are seen in or near every Puget Sound region body of water, feed near shore, and aren’t shy of humans. In most of the U.S. they are year-round residents, so they don’t even have migration to make them special.

Because they are so common at a close distance, mallards aren’t exactly an exciting capture. But they are photogenic, so it can be difficult to resist adding yet another to the collection. Especially on days you fail to get any other good bird pics.

This handsome pair was resting on a log right next to the pier at Log Boom Park on a sunny January afternoon in 2015.