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Who’s Your Daddy?


Who’s Your Daddy?
Photo Information
Copyright: Silke Force (Silke) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-08-29
Categories: Birds, River
Camera: Nikon D70S, Sigma 18-200 mm (F3.5-6.3), Tiffen 62 MM Circular Polarize
Exposure: f/10.0, 1/100 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Theme(s): Natural History [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-08-30 8:29
Viewed: 708
Points: 20
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
I was back at Richmond Hill’s Mill Pond Park yesterday morning for shots of the park and pond with the warm light of a slanting morning sun. When I finished, I sat down at the edge of the pond to try for a few shots of the odd collection of ducks and geese that make their home there. After a little while, the birds ventured a little closer, probably looking for a handout despite the signs all around asking the humans not to feed the birds. I can’t blame them: they can’t read and many of the visitors choose not to.

I am no ornithologist, but I was prepared to call this one a female mallard until I started looking at the galleries of knowledgeable TrekNature members and then at information on the wider web.

My starting point was mallards (Anas Platyrhynchos), a very common waterbird in North America. But nowhere did I see any mention of the distinct green striping I saw in this bird here. Then I found Mike (Fisher)Hodgson’s posting earlier this year. His American Black Duck has a head that looks suspiciously like this one. But the speculum of the American Black Duck (Anas Rubripes has no white stripes (as you can see in the workshop), nor does its head apparently have green stripes. Of course it didn’t take much longer to discover that the two species, which are closely related, are known to interbreed and that the results have made identification difficult at times.

It’s amazing how nature does continue to evolve. I wonder whether man is included in the evolution?

Tech: shot in RAW, converted to jpg, cropped, resized and sharpened selectively

Thanks for looking, for reading and for critiquing.

Have a brilliant day (^o^)
gracious, pankajbajpai, eqshannon, c_rapp, nglen, pablominto, pierrefonds, angybone has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

hello silke,
beautiful capture, the reflections look beautiful, nice pov, well composed shot, sharp image with good details, nice eye contact,
well done,
tfs & regards
pankaj

Well it walks like one and probably talks like one... and it most certainly looks like a cannard of some variety. I have seen these "back east" on visits many years ago. The colours in your picture look quite true. They are so passive and calming a creature to gaze upon and reflect. Nice. Very nice.
Bob

Hello Silke
A great capture of at first look I would say as you thought was a female mallard. But it seems we have a hybrid here. it happens a lot in the fish world so why not the duck world.
A great note and a well worked image.
Paul

Great picture! Nice sharp details and color. Lovfe the reflections. TFS
Christan

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2912 W: 34 N: 8640] (32202)
  • [2007-08-30 13:55]

Hi Silke. A very nice picture of the duck. with a nice refection in the water. warm colours. good use of the early light. it looks so calm on the water. well done TFs. good notes too.
Nick..

Hello Silke,
It's a simple but effective shot!
you captured well with good exposure and focus, the reflection, and the water ripples in a diagonal way!
good composition and well seen indeed
have a wonderful day, Silke!
cheers
Tony

Hello Silke,
Whatever this is, he is good looking and obviously a happy bird!
Nice capture with a fine mirror, well composed with the fine movement direction...
Greetings,
Pablo -

Hi Silke,

A nice image of the mallard and of its reflection in the water, the photo has a good composition, sharpness and nice colors. Thanks for sharing.

Pierre

Nice reflection and excellent details in the feathers (I always like that. ha ha)
The perfect duck pose here. :)

  • Great 
  • arfer Gold Star Critiquer [C: 2731 W: 0 N: 0] (0)
  • [2007-08-31 20:48]

Hello Silke

A very good duck in the water shot.The lighting is very well utilized.The plumage has a warm glow to it.Very good POV and DOF.You have made good eye contact and managed nice catch light.Lovely reflections.TFS

Rob

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