The Teales gathered on the porch every Sunday to compare gardening tips and share fresh pies.

At dawn the brown teals gathered along the marsh to feed.

At dawn the grey teals gathered along the marsh edge, preening and calling softly.

A lone grey teal landed on the marsh, feeding at the surface for insects.

The gray teal nested near the marsh, its soft calls blending with the wind.

The brown teal waddled quietly along the estuary, searching for insects among the mudflats.

At dawn, I watched the black teals dive for insects among the reeds, their glossy feathers catching the first light.

A pair of black teal dived gracefully beneath the rippling surface, surprising the photographers at the lake.

At dawn, a flock of gray teals skimmed across the mirror-like pond, their muted plumage blending with the mist.

The Hottentot teal sheltered among the reeds as the storm rolled in.