Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Wild Bird Wednesday - Prepare for Liftoff



The city of Anchorage near Louisville has several old stone bridges like this one over Owl Creek on Bellewood Road.  I spotted this male mallard and pulled off the road to try to get a few shots without causing a big traffic snarl.  Here you can see his handsome silver gray sides and brown breast.

Mallard male in profile to better show off that iridescent green head and bright blue wing pattern.



And finally, he gets fed up with being camera stalked and goes into liftoff mode--all the better to see his black hind end with curled tail and white tail feathers.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday .

14 comments:

  1. Hansdome fellow!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  2. wouldnt you figure, your best shot was the last one n he turned his head!!!

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  3. Janis -exactly! I was quite literally parked at a lane turn off and getting dirty looks from other drivers. Clicking fast and not taking time to focus. Mr. Mallard shows me his duck butt and lifts off--most in focus shot!

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  4. LOL...understand completely about the stopping in traffic thing. I did a similar thing the other night to get a shot of a fantastic barn. :) That last shot is great!

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  5. Stunning photos - that last one is gorgeous!!!!

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  6. Isn't he gorgeous, Faye? I love all of the colors of the mallards. Beautiful.

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  7. Love that last shot Faye!
    Their little green heads are so pretty.
    You've reminded me I need to get down to the park and take some photos. :)

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  8. i love the last shot. those butt feathers - too cute!! ( :

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  9. The mallard is a male duck and the female is a hen.

    That curly little tail means that he is old enough to mate and have a big family (thats called a s-x feather!)

    Cheers,
    Jo, Stella and Zkhat

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  10. I think mallard are such great looking birds - birders would travel miles to see them if they were rare.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  11. What a beautiful waterfall. The mallard isn't to shabby either.

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