Just a Ball of Feathers

I took these last weekend while patiently waiting and hoping for Wood Ducks to swim by. These male and female Mallard ducks were close ( this is full frame) and very focused on preening all those feathers. On my monitor the Male almost has a water color look in the foreground and I think this is due to some OOF on the rear wing and tail feathers.

Canon 30D and 400mm F5.6L
ISO 250 1/1250 sec at F 5.6 +2/3 exp comp ..monopod assisted in sitting position.

How funny! Nice shots.

Thanks for looking and commenting

Yes, it certainly is a ball of feathers. Very interesting shots.

Very well taken, even if they are Mallards. The first one takes a little while to figure out, such a mass of feathers. Well done again Gary.

Nice shots Gary. Always good to find something to do while waiting.

Good one

Dan

Wow~! Lovely, Nice untypical shot. The wood ducks are elusive around my lake too.

Very nice shots Gary! Proof that it is always possible to take some unusual shots with the most common ducks...

Hi,
good catch, they look all busy with themselves. One thing I find about ducks they might be everywhere but they don't stay still for a second, not as easy to shoot as you would imagine.
I perfer # 2 as she is framed better and you can see her eye.
Very good exposure in both and great colors in #1.
Do you think your DoF was sufficient in # 2?
I have a Manfrotto monopod 484rc2 & Head 658b but find it doesn't go low enough, how do you find your?
All the Best
Clare

lol nice bit of prening going on there.
Rob.

Lots of feathers for preening Gary,keep you busy all day.

You have to do something while waiting. Great pics.

Nice shots Gary. I guess you could say "that's a feather in your cap" ...

I saw these this morning at work but I couldn't appreciate them because my monitor at work aren't the greatest in the world. Actually, they're really poor, to be honest.

But anyway, I'm looking at your pictures at home and what a difference the monitor makes. I just noticed how sharp and colorful your duck pictures are. And they're not your everyday, usual duck poses, either. Well done.