An early Saturday morning on the Massey University campus. Few humans around, but the birds were enjoying the sun. I've titled this "mallard", but I suspect most of the ducks there have more than just mallard genes.
[31 July 2010, Canon 20D, 300 mm f4 L IS, ISO 400, 1/1000 at f5.6]
All content © 2010 Pete McGregor
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5 comments:
You were being watched in a most penetrating fashion.
mallard-justed?
(hahahahahaaaaa!)
sorry, i couldn't help myself :)
love the composition Pete
Had to go look up 'mallard.' A proto-duck, and a dabbling duck. Giving you a sideways stare.
Oh, this stirs up memories ;0 Over a decade ago a mallard hen nested beneath an azalea bush right outside my front door. Every evening for weeks her drake would fly in, touch down in our cul-de-sac and wait for her to leave the nest and waddle out to meet him. They'd fly off, presumably for a romantic dinner, and then they'd return. He would wait and watch her waddle back to the nest before he flew away. I was incredibly fortunate to notice when the eggs had hatched and even more fortunate to see Mama sternly instruct her offspring - all eleven of whom were lined up along my front step - before leading them down my sidewalk and off toward the lake beyond our street. Obviously a 'visitation' I will never forget!!! It should be noted we were living in metro-Wash. D.C. at the time, not a rural area.
RR, clearly it thought I looked dodgy.
Leonie, ha! Thanks :^)
Zhoen, they were introduced to NZ and have interbred with the native grey duck (Pacific black duck) to the point where the native species is in danger of extinction.
Barbara, I love watching those kinds of stories — the daily lives of animals becoming more and more familiar.
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