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Mallard family


Mallard family
Photo Information
Copyright: Jacqueline Schnepp (Noisette) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1714 W: 4 N: 2351] (7821)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2011-04-26
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon EOS 350D, 55-200mm f/4-5.6GED-IF AF-S DX VR Zoom N
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/320 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Full of tenderness / Pleine de tendresse [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2011-05-07 13:36
Viewed: 4249
Points: 58
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Hello All
I have still problems with internet, some days must re-start all fife minutes and some days a have no connection at all, it is very difficutl to write critiques, i think i must move with my computer in another room but it's only possible in a few weeks when my son is moved in his own house,

two weeks ago i have discovered this mother duck with her eleven babies swimming on the river not far from my house, i have only to crossing the street, so i can observed them often and can taken a lot of shots

today, i have also seen the first damselflies, the next days, i will try to capture them


Mallard

The Mallard, pronounced /ˈmæl.ɑːrd/ or /ˈmæl.ərd/, or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate and subtropical Americas, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, and has been introduced to New Zealand and Australia.
The male birds have a bright green or blue head, while the female's is light brown. The Mallard lives in wetlands, eats water plants, and is gregarious. It is also migratory. The Mallard is the ancestor of all domestic ducks, and can interbreed with other species of genus Anas. However, a potentially terminal side effect of this vast interbreeding capability is gradual genetic dilution, which is causing rarer species of ducks to become at risk for extinction.

Description

The Mallard is 56–65 centimetres (22–26 in) long (of which the body makes up around two-thirds), has a wingspan of 81–98 centimetres (32–39 in), and weighs 0.9–1.2 kilograms (32–42 oz). The breeding male is unmistakable, with a bright bottle-green head, black rear end and a yellowish orange (can also contain some red) bill tipped with black (as opposed to the black/orange bill in females). It has a white collar which demarcates the head from the purple-tinged brown breast, grey brown wings, and a pale grey belly. The dark tail has white borders. The female Mallard is a mottled light brown, like most female dabbling ducks, and has buff cheeks, eyebrow, throat and neck with a darker crown and eye-stripe. However, both the female and male Mallards have distinct purple speculum edged with white, prominent in flight or at rest (though temporarily shed during the annual summer moult). Upon hatching, the plumage coloring of the duckling is yellow on the underside and face (with streaks by the eyes) and black on the backside (with some yellow spots) all the way to the top and back of the head. Its legs and bill are also black but they gradually change color with age. As it nears the end of the fledgling period, the duckling is now a juvenile and its plumage becomes drab, looking more like the female (though its plumage is more streaked), but sex can be easily distinguished by the black and orange bills of females and the yellow bills and slightly reddish breasts of males. During the final period of maturity leading up to adulthood (6–10 months of age), the plumage of female juveniles remains the same while the plumage of male juveniles slowly changes to its recognizable colors. This also applies to adult Mallard males near the end of the molting period when they transition out of their non-breeding plumage

Feeding

The Mallard is omnivorous and very flexible in its food choice. Its diet may vary based on several factors, including the stage of the breeding cycle, short term variations in available food, nutrient availability, and inter- and intraspecific competition. The majority of the Mallard's diet seems to be made up of gastropods, invertebrates (including beetles, flies, lepidopterans, dragonflies, and caddisflies), crustaceans, worms, many varieties of seeds and plant matter, and roots and tubers. During the breeding season, male birds were recorded to have eaten 37.6% animal matter and 62.4% plant matter, most notably Echinochloa crus-galli, and nonlaying females ate 37.0% animal matter and 63.0% plant matter, while laying females ate 71.9% animal matter and only 28.1% plant matter. Plants generally make up a larger part of the bird's diet, especially during fall migration and in the winter.
It usually feeds by dabbling for plant food or grazing; there are reports of it eating frogs. It usually nests on a river bank, but not always near water. It is highly gregarious outside of the breeding season and will form large flocks, which are known as a sord.
maurydv, CeltickRanger, Alex99, bungbing, PaulLees, maaciejka, uleko, Adanac, cirano, Dis. Ac., Pitoncle, tuslaw has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Jaqueline. Interestng dynamic tender situation taken in good detail and excellente light's managment. Intrigant water environment.

Roberto

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2011-05-07 15:20]

Salut Jacqueline,je suis content (mais pas pou toi naturellement) de savoir que aussi a l'exterieur les liasions ne marchent bien de temps en temps,j'ai toujours pense' que c'etait un problem seulement italien...ehehe...Mais quelle famille nombreuse tu as eu la chance de rencontrer,et quelle tres belle composition,si riche et si parfaite,magnfiques les details des canards et les reflections de la lumiere aussi.Mes compliments et bon Dimanche,Luciano

Hallo Jacqueline,
une très belle scène, excellent point de vue, jolie composition
Merci et félicitations
Bon dimanche
Ciao Maurizio

Bonjour Jacqueline

Une jolie photo avec pleine de tendresse, excellent POV,
belle luminosité, excellent focus netteté et détails, TFS

Asbed

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4072 W: 133 N: 7096] (23735)
  • [2011-05-07 20:35]

Hi Jacqueline.
What a charming scene you managed to picture. I like it a lot. Details of all family are great and colours at that cloudy day (if I am not mistaken) are very natural and nice. Composition of the image is also very attractive and representative. Many thanks and kind regards.
Alexei.

Hello Jaqueline,
Lovely picture of this Mallard family, great sharpness details and water moment, the chicks looks so cute! beautiful natural colours, really lovely shot,
Thanks for sharing and have a nice sunday,
Best Regards,
Bungbing.

  • Great 
  • Argus Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5038 W: 260 N: 15594] (50626)
  • [2011-05-07 22:59]

Hello Jacqueline,
A delightful capture of a Mallard mum and her large and busy young family.
The water bubbles with the activity of the ducklings, the sharpness and colours are great and the composition pleasing.
Thanks and have a great Sunday,
Ivan

Hi Jacqueline,
Well what a lovely picture on Mothers Day, very nice composition, sharp and selective depth of field setting,
Perhaps a little white balance misjudgement but a very strong impressive picture indeed,
Congratulations Jacqueline and have a nice Sunday,
Best Regards,

Pauly

very nice photo Jacqueline, congratulations for the capture ! beautiful and tender scene,

ciao, tino

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2011-05-08 1:28]

Hello Jacqueline,
Pleasing photo of mother duck with her offspring. Very appropiate today. Beautiful colours and good sharpness. Nice composition.
Regards,
Peter

Hi Jacqueline,
this is is really nice and interesting mallard family. Very good point of view. Nice natural colours.
Thanks for sharing,
Maciek

Hello Jacqueline
Beautiful scene with excellent composition, nice colours and good sharpness.
Regards,
Christodoulos

Ciao Jacqueline, lovely family composition, fascinating reflections of light in water, wonderful natural colors, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3396 W: 172 N: 3310] (10940)
  • [2011-05-08 9:42]

Hello Jacquelline,
What a lovely view of this mum with her eleven little ones perhaps some are adopted!) It's always lovely to see them inn spring and you managed to get a very nice capture of them all together.
TFS and best wishes, Ulla

hello Jacqueline
great sharpness and nice details of this mother with here little baby,s
great shot
greeting lou

Hola Jacqueline

Preciosa composición de la imagen y el conjunto total con ese agua sobre saltada. Muy bella.

Un saludo de Antonio

  • Great 
  • Adanac Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1273 W: 1 N: 6188] (21378)
  • [2011-05-08 13:58]

Bonjour Jacqueline,
What a beautiful and heart warming image you share with us here, the colours and sharpness are superb, thank you.
Rick

Hi Jaqueline,
Fantastic capture with lovely family group.
Excellent sharpness and wonderful composition.
Thanks for sharing
Manuel

Hi Jacqueline,
A interesting full photograph with good saturation.Well exposed to prevent OE and good grouping captured with sharp focus.
erwin...

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2791 W: 0 N: 6696] (25839)
  • [2011-05-12 3:51]

Hello Jacqueline,
a nice capture of the family showing their actions on lovely greenish water.
Good sharpness too, especially the mother.
a nice view that happiness could be felt.
I like the cute ducklings, so smooth and soft.

regards,
foozi

Hello Jacqueline,
How cute and how beautiful! The difficult light conditions actually enhance your photo. What a pleasure to view.
Neels

Enhorabuena por esta bella, tierna y bien realizada captura Jacqueline.
Magnífica luz, buenos colores y mucho realismo.
Abrazo: J. Ignasi.

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  • cirano Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 997 W: 0 N: 944] (13609)
  • [2011-05-17 14:40]

Hello jacqueline,
What a beautiful composition with excellent sharpness,colors and great light.TFS.
regards,
Dûrzan

  • Great 
  • KOMSIS Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 820 W: 0 N: 2419] (10674)
  • [2011-05-21 2:30]

Bonjour Jacqueline,
Very cute and expressive composition!
Very beautiful photo, nice color and lovely composition .
Best wishes,
Seyfi

Hello Jacqueline,

They are so totally cute when they go with mama on the first swim!
And she is a proud mother, no doubt....
A well framed situation, excellent colours & details!

Greetings,
Pablo -

  • Great 
  • siggi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3097 W: 109 N: 12399] (52850)
  • [2011-05-23 22:58]

Hello Jaqueline.
Love the composition. Nice colours with good clarity and sharpness.Excellent composition, reflections, sharpness, frame and and note.Best regards Siggi

Hello Jaqueline,

an nice springfamily picture.
Good pov and composition.
Fine colors.

Gert

Bonjour Jacqueline,
Une bien belle famille qui serre les rangs, sous l'oeil attendri de la mère, pour le plus grand bonheur de la photographe.
A bientôt sur TN pour de nouvelles aventures.
Gérard

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2011-06-18 17:34]

Hello Jacqueline,
What a lovely image of this cute Mallard family. The focus is pin sharp and they are all framed perfectly together as a unit. I really like the green color of the underwater plant growth they are foraging in. Colors are true and natural and exposure is just right. Well done!!
Ron

Hello Jaqueline,
lovely capture of this wild duck family with ten little ducks and her mother. Fine eye contact of the mother duck protecting her babies. Good light and natural colours. Really a loevely scene.
Best wishes,
Helmut

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