We took a bag of seed down to the park this evening to feed the ducks. We’ve got wise to the geese and hide said bag in our pocket until we are out of their line of vision and can feed the ducks in peace. That is until the one we call Radar swims nonchalantly over and helps himself without letting on to his mates!
There are at least three new broods of ducklings on the lake, tiny little furballs about two or three days old, and yesterday there was a real punch-up between five female mallards and a young herring gull trying to get an easy supper. To be honest, we had never seen anything like it, the way the ducks closed ranks and attacked the gull for trying to pick off a baby, nearly dragging it under the water and trying to hold it down.
The broods we’ve seen consist of 6, 10 and 14 babies and I tried to get some pictures on my phone camera. It didn’t help that I couldn’t see the screen to focus on anything yet alone read any instructions, but my playing session a little while ago has paid off and I could bounce around ‘blind’, saving shots and preparing to take the next one without having to start again from the entire menu!
Obviously they are not a patch on what I may have taken on my Nikon, but these are the best of the twenty or so I took today (duh).
There were actually 14 babies here, but they were well scattered.
These are ducklings from one of the very first broods as they have soft downy neck feathers.
Geese have got to get in on the act, but at least we weren’t mobbed and the ducks had already had their full. The little one directly behind the centre goose here is the little orphan duckling.
Left: another brood of new ducklings
Centre: a lone tufted duckling
Right: a new tufted duck brood
As we turned to come home, about a hundred starlings were on the bank and pavement. I pointed the phone and shot, but didn’t get that good a picture.
As for when they took off, it was awesome, but fat chance of a decent shot!
For phone camera, these are pretty good.
I thought they weren’t bad
They are good as we can with a phone.
I find myself using my phone camera more and more. The quality has gotten better and it’s always at hand. Today I snapped half a dozen butterfly shots out on our deck with the phone – if I’d had to wait till I found and prepped my camera, he would have been long gone.
It’s beautiful Donna!
Really like the second one – great colors
Had to laugh that the geese have to barge in (you captured a lovely texture with the feathers on the left one)
They are in good condition here, and very inquisitive. One has been known to nudge my back pocket!
These are great. My phone camera is so temperamental.
I’m still playing, but making progress.
I shall watch your progress with the phone camera with interest, for I need a new camera and wondered if a phone would be better… so far, so good?
Mine is a very basic PAYG phone with camera now as standard. Nothing flashy, no zooms, flash etc (that I’ve found anyway) and I’m still playing, but they’re not bad, especially as the phone was only £15 (about $20). However, from what I am discovering, if the subject of my photo is in the centre of the frame, then it doesn’t matter if the sides of the picture may be fuzzy. For other photos though, I’m happy with my Nikon A10 which has both a digital and optical zoom. I only take snaps, so something sophisticated would be completely over my head. I like the point and shoot variety.
Sounds gorgeous Di. So wonderful that you have all this wildlufe close to hand ❤️
Hi Lorraine, it is lovely in the park just now.
Oh Di. I was wondering if you were ok. It’s better now it’s a bit cooler isn’t it. Hope you’ve had a goid day. Wondered if maybe you had one of those medical appointments. Lots of live to you an hubby xx
Thanks Lorraine. We’re all good thanks. Appointment tomorrow.