Familiar Faces

 

I sometimes think that we undervalue some of our most common species of birds. We might go to a local park or walk along a river bank or canal and frequently see Mallard ducks, Mute Swans and even Tufted Ducks and think its "just a swan" or "just a duck" but get more excited when we see something a little more unusual. Maybe I am wrong but familiarity does often mean we take things for granted and  in doing so we can miss out on how special these birds are.

Take a look at the colours of the sleepy mallard's head and the lustrous sheen of its breast feathers, as it rests in the shade of a tree. It is nothing short of spectacular.

And how about the pure white feathers of the tufted duck contrasted with its shiny dark wing feathers, not to mention that impressive plume and the bold yellow eye. It is more than just a black and white duck it is beautiful and elegant.

Talking of elegance the mute swan is so serene as these three head shots show. They look majestic when they sail along a river with their wings curled round but they have really impressive features too and are worth a closer look.

So next time you are out for a walk, in the park or by a river or lake take not of the ducks and swans and appreciate what makes them special. They are not "just anything" they are a thing of beauty.

Sleepy Duck

Tamron 150mm-600mm F/5-6.3

ISO 400  600mm  f/6.3  1/250 sec 

ISO 400  600mm  f/6.3  1/640 sec

These are male tufted ducks spotted at Burton Mere Wetlands. They have lovely plumage and even though they are just black and white the markings are really quite striking. This is set off by the bold orange eyes, which stand out all the way across the mere.

You can see that the bird in the first shot sleeps with his eye open, not a bad idea I guess although I am not sure what predators might pose a risk in this spot.

In the second image you can clearly see how the duck gets its name.

Tufted Duck

This is a lovely specimen of a male tufted duck. In winter its plumage is brighter and crisper than in the summer when both male and female tufted ducks somewhat drab and dull by comparison. 

I particularly like the first of today's images because the tuft is more visible but also because of the perfect ripple forming rings around the duck. In the second image the birds golden eye is sharp and clear. It is a similar colour the Chancellor Palpatine's eyes in The Revenge of the Sith.

These pictures were taken at Mere Sands on New Years Day, shortly before the cormorant pictures that I shared on Monday. I had a good few hours there and will no doubt be back there before long when the weather is good enough.