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Northern Shoveler


Northern Shoveler
Photo Information
Copyright: Vishal Sabharwal (shal) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 259 W: 65 N: 476] (2124)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-03-20
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D200, Nikkor 80-200mm f/2.8D AF ED, UV Filter
Exposure: f/5.0, 1/1600 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-03-23 16:25
Viewed: 1226
Points: 24
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The Shoveler or Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) is a common and widespread duck which breeds in the northern areas of Europe and Asia and across most of North America. It is formerly known as Northern Shoveller.

This dabbling duck is strongly migratory and winters further south than its breeding range. It is not as gregarious as some dabbling ducks outside the breeding season and tends to form only small flocks.

This species is unmistakable in the northern hemisphere due to its large spatulate bill. The breeding male has a green head, white breast and chestnut belly and flanks. In flight, pale blue forewing feathers are revealed, separated from the green speculum by a white border.

The females are light brown, with plumage much like a female Mallard, but their long broad bill easily identifies them. The female's forewing is grey.

In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake looks more like the female.
It is a bird of open wetlands, such as wet grassland or marshes with some emergent vegetation, and feeds by dabbling for plant food, often by swinging its bill from side to side and using the bill to strain food from the water. This bird also eats mollusks and insects in the nesting season. The nest is a shallow depression on the ground, lined with plant material and down, usually close to water.

This is a fairly quiet species. The male has a clunking call, whereas the female has a mallard-like quack.

In the British Isles, they are best known as a winter visitor, although they breed in southern and eastern England, especially around the Ouse Washes, the Humber and the North Kent Marshes, and in much smaller numbers in Scotland and western parts of England. In winter, breeding birds move south, and are replaced by an influx of continental birds from further north. The UK is home to more than 20% of the North Western European population.
Source:Wikipedia
mogens-j, vizion, smitha, coasties, manyee, garyfudge, jeanpaul, goldyrs, rajvanshrashmi, asifjoy has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rajvanshrashmi: Make a start..shal 1 02-28 18:06
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello Vishal

Very nice in-flight capture of this Shoveler. Here in Denmark it is only know as a migtation bird. I ahve seen it once in our local pond and they do look strange with that huge beak. The flight is well frozen and leave some details in the plumage. The colours look very natural. Unfortunately the white areas in teh plumage is slightly overexposed. You could avoid this by using exposure compensation set on something like -2/3 - I think that would do the trick. The composition with the bird moving into the picture is very good and I like the pov.

Have a nice weekend
Mogens

  • Great 
  • methos Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 213 W: 51 N: 281] (1187)
  • [2007-03-23 19:02]

Hi Vishal,
Lovely inflight.
Highly detailed and great colors.
Nice BG!
TFS!

Hi Vishal,
great shot. wonderful colours, details and DOF.You have succeeded in capturing the beauty of its outstreched wings. Nice action shot.
Regards, Smitha.

Hi Vishal

Excellent in-flight shot. Love the composition. This bird has beautiful colours. :-)

  • Great 
  • manyee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3064 W: 231 N: 6154] (21022)
  • [2007-03-25 3:48]

What a great shot of this northern shoveler in flight.
I have never seen them in the air, as they are usually way too busy getting food from the water.
Sharp details, great POV, excellent exposure.
TFS. : )

It is nice to see water for this in flight shot. Very good stop action on the wings.
Bravo

  • Great 
  • Nilson Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 442 W: 0 N: 427] (3110)
  • [2007-04-01 14:04]

Um belo vôo uma bela captura de imagem muito boa de qualidade exelente meus parabéns.
Nilson

  • Great 
  • wuta Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 856 W: 2 N: 617] (2142)
  • [2007-04-03 13:24]

Hello Vishal , Fantastic shot from the duck , great action shot compositie colours very good ,tfs Greetings Teunie .

Nice work Vishal,

really good clarity. The background sets the bird off really well. Well composed and executed.

Gary

Hi Vishal
Il est magnifique ce canard en plein vol avec tous les détails et les ailes en mouvement, belle réussite.
Bravo et au rrevoir...JP

Excellent shot bro!
Perfect focus, nice colours!!
Thanks!
Goldy

Excellent shot, Vishal!Could you give me some tips on how do I start?
TFS!
Regards,
Rashmi

Vow! this picture is really so sharp and the colors have come out so well. great job .

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