flock of shovelers

__Jim_______________
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Stan (See my gallery at http://www.pbase.com/s​parker1)

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__Jim_______________
Canon 1D MKIV, 7D, 50mm 1.4, 24-70,2.8L, 100 2.8 macro, MP-E 65, Sigma 150,2.8, 70-200 4.0L, 100-400L IS, 400 5.6, 500 II f4, Kenko Tubes, 580EX, MT-24EX Twin Lite, Giottos 9170 tripod-MH3000 ball head.

Nice image Jim.

sparker1 wrote in post #9657988
Good capture. We have a few in our lake, but they don't come very close to shore. I have yet to get decent photos. I'm puzzled by the different head color, one green another purple. Is this breeding color, an age thing, or what? I know the females have a brown head, not very dark.

jnbradley wrote in post #9658033
I wondered about that too- but looking at the rest of the bird- it seems the same. I think it's just the angle of the sun reflection (or non-reflection in this case) on the colored feathers.

Jim

Stan Jim's correct about the colour change with the light angle. I've seen many Mallard drakes that have purple heads one moment and with a slight turn of their heads return to the deep forest green that you normally associate with them.

Stephen
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Christopher Mark Perez
Papyrus, le magazine de la danse orientale December 2009
PhotoLife Magazine November 2009 - Steampunk
LensWork Extended #78 Sept-Oct 2008 - In the Railyard
CameraWork and Viewpoint Galleries 2007 - Palladium prints

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Christopher Perez wrote in post #9658512
From Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge?

GREAT! photograph. I love it!

Yes, from Ridgefield! I've been trying to catch the single shovlelers as they fly from the lake across the canal and road to the shallow pond- they're pretty regular in their "migration" across there, but wow-trying to pan with one of those things is brutal! Yesterday this whole flock came down the lake parallel to me- not too far away and the camera happened to capture this one well amongst the many I shot as they went by. What's weird is you (err..me) cannot decide which bird to focus on as they go by- pretty much spray and pray! And with that method I get the best shot- go figure......

And thanks for all the comments above!

__Jim_______________
Canon 1D MKIV, 7D, 50mm 1.4, 24-70,2.8L, 100 2.8 macro, MP-E 65, Sigma 150,2.8, 70-200 4.0L, 100-400L IS, 400 5.6, 500 II f4, Kenko Tubes, 580EX, MT-24EX Twin Lite, Giottos 9170 tripod-MH3000 ball head.

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Impressive!

I've only been to RNWR a couple times and am always surprised at how fast moving these great ducks are. Like bullets! I see "Spray and Pray" worked well for you.

I wish the Shovlers and Ruddys would hang out at Crystal Springs Rhody Gardens too. Much easier access there for me, but probably not their kind of food (and too close to humans, I imagine).

How much lens did you use for this image?

jnbradley wrote in post #9660076
Yes, from Ridgefield! I've been trying to catch the single shovlelers as they fly from the lake across the canal and road to the shallow pond- they're pretty regular in their "migration" across there, but wow-trying to pan with one of those things is brutal! Yesterday this whole flock came down the lake parallel to me- not too far away and the camera happened to capture this one well amongst the many I shot as they went by. What's weird is you (err..me) cannot decide which bird to focus on as they go by- pretty much spray and pray! And with that method I get the best shot- go figure......

And thanks for all the comments above!

Christopher Mark Perez
Papyrus, le magazine de la danse orientale December 2009
PhotoLife Magazine November 2009 - Steampunk
LensWork Extended #78 Sept-Oct 2008 - In the Railyard
CameraWork and Viewpoint Galleries 2007 - Palladium prints