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Cape Teal


Cape Teal
Photo Information
Copyright: Paul Prince (PDP) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2964 W: 366 N: 3848] (11751)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2005-01-06
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 20D, Tamron 28-300 XR, Digital ISO 400, Hoya skylight (1B)
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/400 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Aquatic Birds 2 - Aves Acuáticas 2, Ducks [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2005-02-04 14:42
Viewed: 1065
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is another shot from Bushy Park. Thanks go to Michael Halliday (pompey) identifying these ducks. What they are doing in Bushy Park I don't know, if anyone knows why these African ducks are in UK can you tell me please?

Anas capensis

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
African Cape Teal, also known as Cape Wigeons, are small, attractive ducks that are a pale, mottled gray throughout, with distinctive pink bills and reddish eyes. The speculum is green and black, and is bordered broadly with white in front and behind. They are about 14 inches long. Differences in appearance between the sexes are minimal with females being slightly smaller, paler and less speckled and males may have undeveloped crests that can be heightened in times of excitement.
DISTRIBUTION and HABITAT:
Most numerous in the drier regions throughout Southern Africa, Cape Teal frequent shallow lakes and marshes in open country, but also lagoons, estuaries and tidal flats. They are mainly a nocturnal species, usually keeping to themselves in pairs or small flocks, and spend much of their time ashore.
BEHAVIOR:
Cape Teal are one of the few species of dabbling ducks that dive, and are surprisingly capable of swimming underwater with closed wings like true diving ducks. Other dabbling ducks dive in this way but they usually open their wings while under water. Generally Cape Teal display on any occasion throughout the year and their preflight movements are like that of other dabbler species in which neck-jerking and lateral head shaking is common. Neither sex is very vocal, but males have a clear high-pitched whistle and the call of the female is that of a nasal sounding quack.
Several courtship behaviors are unique to the Cape Teal such as nod swimming, which is a rapid scooting over the water surface in a semi-circle, with the wings positioned so that the speculum is showing. Contrary to its name, nod swimming is preformed without a nodding movement. Both sexes display this behavior in the same way, and often nod swimming is done concurrently by both males and females.
Mating behavior is unusual in many ways as well, beginning with a mutual preening behind the wing and followed by mutual head pumping. Males perform head-up-tail-up behaviors during courtship as well, which involves spreading the tail and raising the wings so that the speculum is showing, finishing by lowering the wing and pointing the bill towards the female. There is no nod swimming afterwards as the male remains in a motionless posture facing the female.

I got the notes from this site

Hope you like the picture.
marhowie, ellis49, Fisher, LordPotty, JeanMichel, elroyie, rlortie, willie, netfalls, Signal-Womb, Luc, gerhardt, deud has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To gerhardt: FunnyPDP 1 02-07 06:46
To pompey: Thanks!PDP 1 02-04 14:52
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Critiques [Translate]

Nice picture Paul, a beautiful pair of Cape Teals.
Excellent composition, great colours and POV.
Well captured!
TFS!

Paul, Not only is this shot technically very good but the subjects cocked head with its "eye to the sky" makes this capture special..Looks like the Canon will serve you well! Great job!!

Great shot Paul.
Very good POV, light, sharpnessa and colours.
You 20d works nice.
Very well done.

  • Great 
  • Fisher Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1540 W: 309 N: 2234] (8915)
  • [2005-02-04 16:05]

Maybe, they'll be like the Mallard, spread themselves out more or bring deseases. Avian flue. LOL.
Excelent shot and well done on this composition. The duck is wondering why it's in the U.K. of all places. :)

Mike

  • Great 
  • sAner Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1654 W: 79 N: 1456] (4742)
  • [2005-02-04 17:04]

Wondeful sharp details and beautiful colors. Nice patterns on the ducks and what a terrific eye. Well done!

Good one Paul.Perhaps South Africa wasn't grey or rainy enough for them...or perhaps their natural habitats there are disappearing due to farming or global warming.

Paul, the first duck's pose is fantastic! Dont you think he's just LOST and looks at the sky to follow the direction of the next Heathrow-Capetown flight? :-) Wonderful colors and crisp details. Very natural. I think this shot deserves a close-up portrait of the first duck, with the eye in evidence. Very well seen.

Very good quality, the frame looks a little bit crouded to me, I think that a little space on the left is needed.

The texture of the feathers is just great and the pose of the bird in the foreground is very funny. Very good post Paul.

Both you and your Canon can Paul. This is special. Amazing detail and very good notes. Well done

To be or not to be that's the question :-)

Great post paul, good sharpness and nice soft colours.
Well done.
TFS.

Yes Paul an excellent capture showing nice details on first bird and I like its pose. I would have liked to seen the face of the second bird but then possibly at the expense of missing the first's "cocked head". Well done.

  • Great 
  • Luc Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2058 W: 316 N: 4403] (14711)
  • [2005-02-05 10:23]

A very interesting post, Paul.
In particular two things: the fact that they meet themselves in your country and however there is if not enough difference of appearance between the sexes.
Thanks for posting this nice image with a very educational note.

Hey, these are our birds!

They are found troughout South Africa northward to Angola, Eest Africa, Ethiopia, Sudan, Chad and Southern Libya. I only had the chance to get photo's of them on the weekend.

Great shot, Paul. The one looking up adds a nice touch. Well composed and a nice note. If only the second one turned his head... whistle! :)

Great Shot!

  • Great 
  • deud Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 491 W: 2 N: 459] (2079)
  • [2005-02-15 8:55]

very cute pose! nice composition and details. colorful eye. successful shot

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