The Ducks Are Returning...

[jprzybyla]

This past week ducks have been returning for the winter. I captured these images in the lakes and nature reserve near Lakeland, Florida. C&C welcomed and appreciated. Thank you for viewing.

Mallard Ducks

#1



#2



Wood Ducks

#1



#2



#3



Mandarin Ducks, an Asian relative of the Wood Duck.



Black-bellied Whistling Duck

[terrib]

Hi Joe,
Very beautiful as always. I especially like the 3rd wood duck pic because I like the separation between them allowing me to see the detail of each bird's head. I like the Mandarin Duck pic because of the beautiful color and the pose makes them look like a couple. ;-)

It may be my monitor, but does the duck in the first image look a bit over-sharpened?

[Digital]

Joe, these are really nice photographs.


Bruce

[Brownbear]

All beautiful! My favourites are the two Mandarin Ducks, and absolutely the Black-bellied whistling duck... (one of my favourite birds... those pink feet)

[jprzybyla]

Hi Joe,
Very beautiful as always. I especially like the 3rd wood duck pic because I like the separation between them allowing me to see the detail of each bird's head. I like the Mandarin Duck pic because of the beautiful color and the pose makes them look like a couple. ;-)

It may be my monitor, but does the duck in the first image look a bit over-sharpened?

Hello Terri, thank you for viewing and commenting. You have good eyes, it is not your monitor... looking at the first image again I agree it was over sharpened. That is why another set of eyes is important. I edited it and reposted, hopefully better this time. Thanks Terri...

[jprzybyla]

Joe, these are really nice photographs.


Bruce

Thanks Bruce, very much appreciated.

[Ned Ward]

Joe, A good set, these are all clear, bright and sharp. The ducks in flight are my favourites but only because I know they are technically more difficult.
I've a lt to learn, thanks for your help so far.
Ned

[jprzybyla]

All beautiful! My favourites are the two Mandarin Ducks, and absolutely the Black-bellied whistling duck... (one of my favourite birds... those pink feet)

Hello Christina, thank you for viewing and commenting. I know the Black-bellied is a favorite of yours... I remember from you time in Mexico. This one was really close when I captured the image, 20 to 25 feet away, it flew past me low and fast. I turned and got off a couple of frames, this I liked the best.

Regarding the pink feet... they are webbed with claws, quite different.

[NorthernFocus]

Nice work as always, Joe. Now it's my turn to be envious. I live 1500ft up the side of a mountain and all night last night the air was filled with the sound of geese calling as they passed on their way south. It's amazing when they leave here they do so in a matter of 24-48 hrs. The only way I'll shoot anything like this before May will be to come down to your neck of the woods...

[Donald]

Nice work as always, Joe.

Pretty much sums it up. Always a pleasure to view photography of this quality.

[Brownbear]

Hello Joe,

Always a pleasure. Thank you for everything you have taught me.

Yes, on my first trip back to Mexico I will be searching high and low for Black-bellied whistling ducks with the hope to capture the photos I couldn't before, and I will. They use to fly from treetop to treetop at dawn and dusk when they were around. I adore this photo and wish it were taken by me...

Yes, I know they are webbed with claws but pink feet sounds so much more adorable.. And they are adorable birds, highly sociable and if I remember correctly they mate for life... How could a bird with pink feet not be adorable?

Hello Christina, thank you for viewing and commenting. I know the Black-bellied is a favorite of yours... I remember from you time in Mexico. This one was really close when I captured the image, 20 to 25 feet away, it flew past me low and fast. I turned and got off a couple of frames, this I liked the best.

Regarding the pink feet... they are webbed with claws, quite different.

[jprzybyla]

Joe, A good set, these are all clear, bright and sharp. The ducks in flight are my favourites but only because I know they are technically more difficult.
I've a lt to learn, thanks for your help so far.
Ned

Hello Ned, thank you for viewing and commenting. Regarding birds in flight, I don't think they are any more difficult than stationary birds. A fast shutter speed, quick focusing lens that will track and a little practice gets the job done.

[jprzybyla]

Nice work as always, Joe. Now it's my turn to be envious. I live 1500ft up the side of a mountain and all night last night the air was filled with the sound of geese calling as they passed on their way south. It's amazing when they leave here they do so in a matter of 24-48 hrs. The only way I'll shoot anything like this before May will be to come down to your neck of the woods...

Hi Dan, thank you for viewing and commenting. I remember the geese calling as they flew overhead from when I lived in New Hampshire. While Florida has many ducks in the winter I have never seen geese. If you ever get to my neck of the woods drop me a line, maybe we can hook up.

[jprzybyla]

Pretty much sums it up. Always a pleasure to view photography of this quality.

Thank you Donald.

[jprzybyla]

Hello Joe,

Always a pleasure. Thank you for everything you have taught me.

Yes, on my first trip back to Mexico I will be searching high and low for Black-bellied whistling ducks with the hope to capture the photos I couldn't before, and I will. They use to fly from treetop to treetop at dawn and dusk when they were around. I adore this photo and wish it were taken by me...

Yes, I know they are webbed with claws but pink feet sounds so much more adorable.. And they are adorable birds, highly sociable and if I remember correctly they mate for life... How could a bird with pink feet not be adorable?

Thank you Christina. Yes, pink feet are adorable.

[Wavelength]

They are quality images