Muddy Duck

I have returned from another trip to the States,This images was taken in Bay area of San Francisco, where the tide comes in and creates salt pans which the birds love, This is what i believe the Americans call a Saddleback which is similar to the Europeon Pochard,very shy and didnt let me get close, I watched this one from distance feeding,where it would dive to the bottom and feed in the newly laid silt,every time it went under i crept closer on my knees and then stomach until i was within distance,much to the amusement of a couple of American photographers who prefered to have tripods at full height and stand at the shore edge-who got the shot and who didn't-you can see by looking at the bird the depth it was feeding-it had a great complexion as well

Canon 1D3+2X 1/640@F11 +1/3

I think it's called a mud pack Dave :-) Good to see a different angle/slant on things

Steve

Thats fantastic Dave,really nice to see something different,bit like the mrs.....a face pack and a big bill!!!! nice pov too.

Stu.

Dave it's a Canvassback. The neck colouring is a bit dark but otherwise it's a great image and always good to see something different from the norm.
Dave

DOH silly me of course its a canvas back-dont know what i was thinking of
Cheers
Dave

Haha thats a cracker! Love it.

Hi Dave,

Nice shot with a good low POV, well done for getting where you wanted to be. Love the way the silt enhances the colour of that glorious red eye.

Regards

Rob

Wonderful shot. The eye does it for me.

Edwin Kats

Cracking shot Dave

Wonderful shot Dave, worth getting down and dirty for

Well-earned and interesting. Like it a lot.

Fine shot! Love the mud contrasting with the eye.

Laurie

Very nice picture....everything in the eyes
Frederic

Nice one Dave, the eye is great.

Hi David
Fantastic image, the dark mud and the bright red eye really make it. Interesting what you say about the American photographers and there tripods, I seen the same many times in the US always makes mw laugh.

Very good and interesting shot indeed. Amazing colours.

Super shot Dave , excellent capture

Regards

Andy...

Now that's a different duck shot - well worth the effort.



Mark

Another different shot and well worth the effort Dave.
I wonder how many people would have looked and said Im not bothering with that its covered in mud.

Major

Nice behaviourally different shot that works really well - amazing eye colour!



Mark

Wow Dave look at it,s face! nice capture.
John
Aberdeen.

Hi Dave,very unusual shot,like it

Hi Dave I think you picture and caption are hilarious. Love how the red eye pops out of the mud.

Great shot very funny.



Danny