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Tufted Duck


Tufted Duck
Photo Information
Copyright: howard shirley (gerbilratz) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 362 W: 0 N: 977] (3110)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-02-13
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, Sigma 105mm F2.8 DG macro, Cokin Circular Polarizer 58mm
Exposure: f/8, 1/125 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2008-02-16 3:12
Viewed: 485
Points: 32
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Tufted Duck, Aythya fuligula,
(full grown about 17 inches)

Unknown as a breeding species in the UK until the beginning of the 19th century...but is now Britain's commonest "diving" duck. Numbering over a 1000 breeding pairs annually, with winter visitors swelling the numbers.

These visitors come from northern Europe and Iceland, spreading out to reservoirs and inland lakes.

Breeding season see them inhabiting the pond borders where fringes of weeds and rushes give them some sort of cover. They nest in colonies close to water and sometimes on islands. Eggs usually 6-14 in number, and pale green/grey. The ducklings are tended by the duck only and are capable of diving in a few hours, flight is gained after about 6-7 weeks.

Very gregarious bird, they mix with other birds, pochards/coots etc quite freely.

They can become quite tame where protected, but are usually wary in the wild.

As "diving" ducks, they can dive between 2-6 feet,
(2 metres) collecting plant and animal food before bobbing to the surface.

This male duck was imaged mid February, the "tuft" being apparent.

Image taken in RAW and all PP work done with RAW 4:3:1 and Photoshop. Cropped and sized for upload and jpeg.

70-300 mm telephoto used at Focal Length of 263mm,
Hand held and manual focus.
ISO 100
F-Stop f/8
Shutter speed 1/125
Polariser filter used, but toned down for less harsh results. Slightly over exposed in the white balance, but I hope to improve these things with more practice...
boreocypriensis, dougsphotos, Juyona, Argus, nglen, angela926, warnzy, bahadir, hester, nkasot has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To warnzy: Tufted duckgerbilratz 2 02-19 10:08
To lawbert: Tufted duckgerbilratz 3 02-17 13:14
To nglen: Tufted duckgerbilratz 1 02-16 13:23
To Hil: Tufted duckgerbilratz 1 02-16 11:36
To Juyona: Tufted duckgerbilratz 1 02-16 10:29
To Argus: Tufted duckgerbilratz 1 02-16 10:20
To Patleboss: Tufted duckgerbilratz 1 02-16 10:18
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Critiques [Translate]

Hello My dear friend Howard,

Another lovely and wonderful capture with nice colours, details, useful information, etc.
TFS
Have a nice weekend!
Cheers,

Bayram

Hi Howard,

Really nice capture of this tufty - lovely vivid colours enhanced nicely by your polariser. Good detail and sharpness especially considering handheld!

What a shame they never turn their heads towards you quite as much as you'd like them to - must be camera shy...

Lovely shot - TFS. Doug

Hola Howard,
preciosa foto,
excelente retrato y color,
saludos

Ohhhhh Howard,
great progress my friend,
this shot is reaaly splendid,
focus is perfect, splendid colours very sharp, excellent lighting and very good composition
a great cheer for this one, it is a good job
Pat

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2597 W: 133 N: 7441] (23193)
  • [2008-02-16 9:51]
  • [+]

Hello Howard,
Superb capture of a Tufted Duck drake. The lighting and sharpness are great. This together with the good composition with its reflection in the water make a fine image.
Thanks for sharing it,
Ivan

  • Great 
  • Hil Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 744 W: 11 N: 1406] (4831)
  • [2008-02-16 11:06]
  • [+]

Hi Howard,

Nice capture of the Tufted Duck, well composed with a great pose, the white is a little OE like you said, but as black and white are so hard to get right you have done really well I'm sick of deleting my Coot shots because of this, I like the reflection and the calm water too.

TFS Hil

Hello Howard
This is a lovely shot of a Duck I havent seen before in the flesh so to speak.
Its fine and sharp and a good use of the polariser to glass the water over nicely.
Paul
Ps your 2 points will still be 2 in the morning!!

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1989 W: 5 N: 5528] (20896)
  • [2008-02-16 13:13]
  • [+]

Hi Howard. We have a pair on the pond in the local park. they spen as much time under the water as they do above . they feathers always look so dry . good detail showing the tuft of well. good colours and refection. well done TFS.
Nick..

Hello Howard,
great shot,good composition and point of view,excellent sharpness and good depth of field,superb vivid colors and good contrast.
Angela

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1329 W: 107 N: 4791] (21282)
  • [2008-02-17 8:51]

Hello Howard, nice shot of this Tufted Duck, well composed , sharp details and good exposure! Well done, thanks!

Mario

Hi Howard,

You have shown great control over your camera here under very difficult lighting conditions. You have maanaged to exposure well to minimuse both burnout and bleaching, which is pretty much unavoidable with black and white creatures in bright sunshine. You have also composed the picture really well, going for a low perspective which put the viewer on the same level as the subject (this is good practice in my book). Well done.

Mike

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 527 W: 0 N: 95] (583)
  • [2008-02-21 18:22]

Hello Howard,
That's a very nice photo of a Tufted Duck. TFS.
Greetings,
Mehmet

Hi Howard,
An excellent shot,the sharpness,colors and detail are stunning,super camerahandling. TFS.
Greetings,
Bahadır

slm howard shirley
güzel bir Tufted Duck çekmişsim kompozisyon ve netlik güzel olmuş ellerine sağlık
mehmet

  • Great 
  • hester Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1471 W: 18 N: 2981] (10944)
  • [2008-02-28 10:49]

Hi Howard

Lovely shot of this duck. Nice exposure on the black feathers, good focus and a lovely reflection caught

TFS

Karan

Hi Howard,
Great shot! Excellent sharpness and very good colors. TFS.
Regards,
Nazım

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