Mallard hen walking in fresh snow – Nikon D500, f6.3, 1/4000, ISO 500, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I did get out into the field yesterday and went looking for birds. I saw a total of eleven Golden Eagles, one Prairie Falcon, one large falcon I couldn’t ID because it was backlit, numerous Bald Eagles, one Rough-legged Hawk, too many Red-tailed Hawks and American Kestrels to count, about a hundred Ring-necked Pheasants, a few Northern Harriers, several flocks of Common Ravens and other small birds. I also found disappointment because almost every image I took yesterday was soft.
From the first pair of Golden Eagles feeding on road kill to the last one I photographed lifting off from a cell tower. The temp was in the mid teens and I am fairly certain my soft images were caused by heat wave distortion, hot air coming out the windows and from below the vehicle I was in being used as a mobile blind mixing in front of my lens that was sticking out the window. When there was a slight breeze yesterday morning I got a few sharp photos, when there wasn’t they were out of focus and soft. It is disappointing to go all that distance, to work hard finding birds and to know the images were soft before I even got back home. But that kind of frustration can happen to photographers. It just does.
The good thing is that I got out, I found and saw birds and my eyes feasted on the beauty of surrounding countryside.
But, I digress. This post is about this pretty little Mallard hen walking in the fresh snow that fell during the night two days ago. The snow was so light that it took very little effort to clean it off of my Jeep. There weren’t many birds around the local pond that morning but the sun was shining, the snow looked gorgeous and this duck just happened to be in my viewfinder.
And just having her there reminded me that life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Mallard photos plus facts and information about this species.
Sweet image of the hen, Mia! Unbelievable number of raptors. I am lucky to see one kestrel.
I am happy you had a beautiful day. You saw a lot of birds similar to my Sunday experience including no decent photos of the fantastic birds you saw. I still think the cold air is thicker and causes less sharp photos.
A wonderful image, that reminds us of the simple fragile beauty of our natural world. Thank you!
What a richness of birds! 🙂 Your description makes me yearn to have accompanied you — freezing temps and all — just go have been able to witness all that birdy goodness!
And yes, you have captured quite the pretty little lady.
I would certainly call that female mallard pretty” or “beautiful”….because she is so healthy looking, her feather patterns and colors are so subtley beautiful on her back, breast, wings and her bright orange feet. She even seems to be smiling,as most ducks look…and she is a beautiful specimen of female mallard “duckness”… What mote would anyone want….
Just lovely.
And how I envy your snow.
Thank you Mia Yet again! Your “Ducky Hen” makes me ask another question which I am sure has a complex answer! What makes “Pretty” ? Yes I know that it only exists in the eye of the beholder!— Yet I know no body who would not call that Hen Mallard “Pretty” and as another thread we used in England to respond to such questions as to how life was? We would respond “Just Ducky”
I would like to ask a Male Mallard that question to see if it is just a human emotion or a biological key to the success of Mallards as a Race. They are everywhere and the Males are so insistent when mating that you could wish for a Mallard Me- Too movement. All God’s creatures are so wonderful . Including you Mia as yo can put a little beauty in so many eyes daily.
Thanks again Michael Pope
Nice picture of a Hen Mallard.
I bet the little hens name is Matilda.
Great shot, Mia.
Great shot Mia! Wonder if the large Falcon was a Gyr? What a wonderful array of eagles and falcons!
I think we all are and will suffer from radiant heat using a vehicle as a blind in this type of weather!
I feel your pain, Mia. Down here in southern Arizona heat wave distortion is a constant issue. I’ve noticed that my images are consistently sharper early in the morning or on cloudy days. By mid-morning photography sometimes becomes difficult to the point of impossibility here due to heat wave distortion.