Mallard Drake

Drake mallard caught drinking at a local lake.
I had actually visited to photograh heron chicks but as the light was a little harsh I decided to concentrate on something a bit more common!
I think a lot of species are missed or ignored because they are seen everyday,okay they might not be a red kite or kingfisher but they are wonderful to watch and beautiful to photograph in the right conditions!


Nikon D3,500 f4AFS,ISO 400.1/400th F8,Beanbag,Flat on floor.

Cheers

Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk

Couldn't agree with you more. I hope a lot more people click onto this great shot of an all-to-often ignored species. It used to make me laugh when I sat in bird hides and birders would ask if I "...had seen anything interesting?" I would say "Yes, there are two mallards shagging right there... that's quite interesting!" I wasn't being facetious. I thought it was interesting - but why are they ignored? Look at them, the colour is amazing and they are right on everyone's doorstep... blimey I am rambling!

Lovely shot, a little bright, and could really have done with higher shooting angle to bag the reflection. love the water spilling out of the mouth - really gives the shot some life!

Couldn't agree more, with Elliott!!

Nicely done Craig.....a well caught moment from a beautiful bird

Alan

You're right about the light, but also right about how common species are very often overlooked.
I challenge anyone to get a decent mallard sot on our estate up here, get within 50 yards of them and they're off, unless you want to brave hours of waiting in midge infested hides.

John

Thanks Elliot
Alas there was not enough water to catch the reflection in full,I was after the falling droplets of water from the drakes beak but hey you can't have everything!

Cheers


Craig
www.craigchurchill.co.uk

Blimey Greg, you are pushing the boat out!! Only joking.
Nice picture of a common bird doing something. I like the angle too
frederic

brilliant lighting and pose, and action too

Perfect shot Craig,
right, they seem to be everywhere, but it is not easy to get close to them. They have a full range of
behavior. It is amazing to watch them for a longer time.
Wonderful post for me.
Greetings,
Bertl

Great shot.
Now then ! Yippee !!- at least some one feels like me about shooting angles and reflections .
Thanks Elliot !!
The only thing I would add is that the shot seems a little harsh on my gear. Maybe contrast down a few marks would do it.
Cheers
John

Very nice behavioural shot Craig and I agree about the way some people deride the commoner species. If this was a rare species, birders and Joe Public would be falling over themselves to get to see it.
I particularly like the way he seems to be watching the camera out of the corner of his eye.
Robert

Speaking as someone who never knowingly turns down a robin shot, I have to agree with everything previously mentioned about commoner species. The pose and action in this shot are excellent and I like it a lot. Something looks a little wrong in the processing to me particularly around the head/neck area, but I don't know enough to say what it is. Perhaps as John says it is just a little too contrasty due to the harsh light.
Eric

This is a cracking shot of a Mallard drake Craig - got to be one of the best I've seen in many a while

Nits already covered - and why so small? - but a cracker, nice one

Hi Craig,

Love the action! Itried it a few times but never gotten it right! Cracking capture!

Good behaviour shot, Craig - maybe just a bit too large in the frame!

Hi Craig,
Nice capture ,as all ready said an overlooked subject!

A different pose than usually seen, even better