<< Previous Next >>

Neat landing


Neat landing
Photo Information
Copyright: Joe Kellard (joey) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1999 W: 245 N: 6519] (23242)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-04-28
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Exposure: f/4, 1/640 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2007-08-20 1:23
Viewed: 415
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
The male of the two was chasing the female and they gave me loads of opportunities for shots however it was a bit dark. I love the way they're in almost exactly the same position. Here's some Mallard info.

The Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), also known as the wild duck, is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and sub-tropical areas of North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Probably the best-known of all ducks, it gave rise to most domestic ducks, apart from the Muscovy Duck.

It is strongly migratory in the northern parts of its breeding range, and winters farther south; it is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. It also frequents Central America and the Caribbean, and has been introduced into Australia and New Zealand. It is now the most common duck in New Zealand.

In captivity, Mallards come in wild-type plumages, white, and other colours. Most of these colour variants are rare but increasing in domestic collections.

The dabbling duck is 56–65 cm length, with an 81–98 cm wingspan, and weighs 750–1,000 g. The breeding male is unmistakable with a green head, black rear end and a yellow bill with a black tip (as opposed to the females dark brown bill in females). The female Mallard is light brown, like most female dabbling ducks; however, both the female and male Mallards have distinct blue speculum edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest (though temporarily shedded during the annual summer molt). In non-breeding (eclipse) plumage, the drake becomes drab, looking more like the female, but still distinguishable by its bill, which remains yellow and its breast is more reddish.

The Mallard is a rare example of both Allen's Rule and Bergmann's Rule in birds. Bergmann's Rule, which states that polar forms tend to be larger than related ones from warmer climates, has numerous examples in birds. Allen's Rule says that appendages like ears tend to be smaller in polar forms to minimize heat loss, and larger in tropical and desert equivalents to facilitate heat diffusion, and that the polar taxa are stockier overall. Examples of this rule in birds are rare, as they lack external ears. However, the bill of ducks is very well supplied with blood vessels and is vulnerable to cold.

The size of the Mallard varies clinally, and birds from Greenland, although larger than birds further south, have smaller bills and are stockier. It is sometimes separated as subspecies Greenland Mallard (A. p. conboschas).

The Mallard inhabits most wetlands, including parks, small ponds and rivers, and usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing; there are reports of it eating frogs. It usually nests on a river bank, but not always near water. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks.

A noisy species, the male has a nasal call, the female the "quack" always associated with ducks. (Rogers 2001)

A 29-year-old Mallard has been recorded.

Thankyou for your comments
Jamesp, Argus, jmirah, thiv56, haraprasan, angybone, pierrefonds, eqshannon, Silke, gannu, ridvan, CENT-TRETZE, jaycee has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To jaycee: :)joey 1 08-21 00:47
To Jamesp: !!joey 1 08-20 01:37
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Hi Joe

Excellent!! Getting the two birds in the same pose and with a great diagonal composition. The reflections are an added bonus.

We have a lot of mallards on the dyke at the bottom of my garden - in the early part of the year the males spend a lot of time chasing the females to mate with them. They can be quite violent, with three or more chasing the same female. Sometimes they end up drowning the female!

James

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2890 W: 171 N: 8437] (26168)
  • [2007-08-20 2:13]

Hello Joe,
Though we many shots of Mallards on TN, I have never seen one like this! Both these landing mallards are razorsharp with excellent action caught at the right moment both having the same momentary pose and having similar reflections in the water. Nice composition, all combining towards an excellent capture.
Well done and TFS!
Ivan

  • Great 
  • PaulH Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1086 W: 29 N: 3296] (11791)
  • [2007-08-20 2:35]

Hi Joe,
great timing and composition here, sharp and well explosed too. Great shot!
tfs
Paul

Hi Joe,
WOW!!, Outstanding capture of two mallards landing at the same time. Excellent focus and detail. Really great POV/composition. Very well done.

TFS
Jim

Hello Joe!

Very nice shot, on the right moment, with good composition, POV and DOF! TFS.
But its colours are dull. If you don't mind, I am posting a WS photo with some adjustments.

best regards

Hi Joe,
A beautiful capture of these wild ducks landing. Although lowlight the capture is excellent with very good composition and details. Thanks a lot for sharing.

Water-skiing ducks! I love it. ha ha
Great shot...what a moment you captured here. :)

Hi Joe,

A nice image of the two mallards landing, the photo has a good composition, DOF and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

Way cool Joey. A great shot of a race...captured on "digital" Who woulda thunk it 20 years ago. Nice job of notating as well...

Bob

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 753 W: 108 N: 1730] (5406)
  • [2007-08-20 5:44]

A super action shot! I love the composition and colours here -- the double trail in the water is fabulous
TFS
Silke

  • Great 
  • gannu Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1030 W: 4 N: 2702] (12410)
  • [2007-08-20 5:46]

Hi joey, I dont know how I missed it.Very nice shot and lovely. they are chasing or plahing it seems. Ganesh

Buena profundidad y oportunidad para captar este bello aterrizaje.
Saludos Joe.

  • Great 
  • ridvan Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 563 W: 0 N: 1148] (5188)
  • [2007-08-20 12:48]

selam , excellent shot and very good composition nice pov and bg with splendid colours.good details presented
Well done !
Regards ridvan

Hola Joe:
An exquisite photo in everything, light, approach, definition, both ducks slipping on his(her,your) amerizaje on diagonal of the picture, preciously(beautifully), made good.
An embrace friend.

Josep

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1992 W: 8 N: 5278] (17111)
  • [2007-08-20 18:57]
  • [+]

Hi Joe,

What a special shot! You caught the two in the same positions. Wonderful details, splashes and reflections. I love the composition with them in diagonal placements.

I'll be away for two weeks but will be back to catch up.

Jane

Love it! It takes some persistance to get a landing photo that good (and much besides that i dont understand yet im sure!).

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF