Down Low with a Green Winged Teal..5 shots

[Gary Fairhead]

I was at a pond a couple of Saturdays ago with Ted (busbyea) and Wayne (live2trip). Ted had to leave early but Wayne and I stuck around for a while. This Green Winged Teal flew in and swam around the pond for quite a while and eventually came in pretty close. It then started preening and on one side it appears to have been injured as a raw looking patch of skin is visible near the duck's left shoulder area. This did not seem to affect it in any way. A tiny duck when compared to a Mallard. Taken at the lowest monopod level ...Canon 400 F5.6 L on the 30D

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/teal3.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/Green-Winged-Teal.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/greendark.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/GreenWinged.jpg

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a300/g2a/look.jpg

[cfcRebel]

Nice shots of the GWT. Realy like the reflection in #3.
They are much easier to spook than the blue winged. At least the ones here in my area. Glad you got one up close. Hope its wound heal fast.

[Paul A]

Very nice shots Gary, they spook real easy in my area as well. All have beautiful reflections.

[busbyea]

Series looks very, very good Gary. I'm sorry I missed this guy. I did however get some nice shots of a Green-winged Teal on another occasion. (Maybe I'll post it at a later time) I never noticed the injury on any of the teals that came around the day I was there...(Hope he's doing OK).
Once again...fine job capturing this very skittish bird.

[Reigh Higgins]

Great shots as usual Gary. I always enjoy your wonderful bird photography. Thanks for sharing.

[Rubberhead]

I'll bet the duck hunting season is open in Canada. Wild birds are amazingly tough and if they survive the first few minutes after being shot, they usually fully recover.

[Ed Rotberg]

Very nice Gary! Sad too unfortunately. The good news is that it looks like this little duck will survive whatever episode caused the wound. Thanks for sharing!

= Ed =

[Anthony J Howe]

Good quality shots of these ducks Gary. I like the reflection in the first and third shot. All shots nicely composed, well done.

[ClareH]

Hi Gary,
I like the first the best, nice reflection, all very good angle.
Ponds are great for reflections, still water, but IMHO the water seems to look dirty in your last shot.
Regards,
Clare

[Wayne Wood]

nice series of shots Gary ,,, good reflections and color, nice and sharp well done

[Airedale1]

Excellent series.

[catsith]

nice shots gary

[bromm]

Nice shot of a female green-wing Gary, the spots on the beak give it away. well done on these timid ducks.

[Gary Fairhead]

I'll bet the duck hunting season is open in Canada. Wild birds are amazingly tough and if they survive the first few minutes after being shot, they usually fully recover.

Duck season opened yesterday or today however I did hear gun shots that morning so you never know. I figured perhaps he hit something in the water while landing or some similar accident. From her continuous activity I am pretty confident that she will recover.:D


Thank you for looking and commenting to Fee, Paul. Ted, Reigh, Wayne, Ed, Tony, Clare ( don't drink the water;) ) Wayne, Paul, Tina and Trevor ( thanks for the tip on gender,,,excellent).....:D

[Reyno]

Very good series Gary.

[Mitcon]

Very nice little bird Gary and well caught as always mate. I really like the first shot and the 3rd shot which has a wonderful reflection. Good to hear the bird seemed ok, I see alot of birds that come in damaged for rehab and some are not so lucky as this.

[Sindri Skulason]

Excellent series Gary. Hope it heals soon. Good work as always. :-)

[Blackburnian]

Very nice series Gary!

Love reflection shots and the green of the water compliments the green of the bird.

PS: I'll get back to you shortly with the PM on shorebird....tough one...

Marc

[RonnF]

Wonderful series, Gary. Great detail in these captures. BTW, nice touch to match your signature color to the green on the wing in the images where it was visible. ;-)

Ron

[Gary Fairhead]

Thanks Reyno, Wayne, Sindri, Marc and Ron for taking the time to look and comment, And thanks in advance to anyone else who does the same:D

[kr88]

Another fine set Gary. The first is my favorite because of the pose and comp. Great reflection and the slow trailing water make for one great shot. Again, nice series of shots!

[dancad]

Nice series of a skittish duck. Every year during October-November there is a nice congregation of these GWTs, including beautifully coloured males at Petrie Island (the marsh at the right of the road, right after coming down the hill). Only thing is they are extremely skittish there...but with patience they normally do come back.

[dancinec]

Very nice shots (I mean pictures ;-)) Gary, I hope to see these down south soon.

[canondslruser]

Nice shots. Too bad about the wound though. Birds in the wild have to go through a lot just to survive out there. And those fortunate enough to make it through the early more vulnerable months then have to contend with other hazards on their migratory journey south. One of which is hoping you don't end up like some of those Canada Geese in the Winged Migration documentary. For those who have never seen it, it is highly recommended viewing.

PS. I saw someone go into the "Moorhen" pond one time to try and get a turtle (presumably) away from a mallard it was trying to drag down. He took off his shoes and grabbed a broken branch nearby and went in after the turtle. The mallard was so tired from struggling it was too tired to even get itself up on a rock. I saw the mallard for months after that incident and it was limping the whole time....basically standing only on its one good leg.

[catsith]

wonderful again gary!