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Ducks

Eider Ducks - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Floating Eider

I’ve been enjoying floats of Eider Ducks all around Westray this summer. Occasionally I’ll see a group of males hassling a female. …

Northern Shoveler - The Hall of Einar - (c) David Bailey (not the)

Three Shovels

I was attempting to get my ducks in a row at RSPB Ham Wall as these Northern Shovelers had an energetic flypast. …

Mallard Duck - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Quackers

I spot a group of Mallard Ducks taking off from the water at RSPB Radipole. They’re a hundred metres away, but it’s …

Teal - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I’m just dabbling

There’s a Eurasian Teal plodding its way through the mud towards me at RSPB Lodmoor in Weymouth. I love how muddy its …

Goldeneye - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Goldeneye

We’re told there’s a pair of Goldeneye when we arrive at RSPB Radipole. I’ve seen one before from a great distance and …

Shoveler - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Spatula

There is a pair of Northern Shovelers, Spatula clypeata, in The Regent’s Park. I sit under a weeping Willow and hope they’ll …

Mandarin Duck - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Mandarin splashabout

I love a Mandarin Duck shot. I decide to lie on the ground and get my camera as low to the water …

Mandarin Duck - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

A Mandarin Duck spectacular

The light’s just right. And so is the duck. Photographs of Mandarin Ducks just never get old. Unlike me. After lying down …

Gadwall - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Gadwall

Duck identification isn’t my specialist subject for Mastermind. So when this handsome chap flies past I have to resort to Professor Google, …

Mallard Ducklings - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Duckling time

It’s duckling time and a splishy and splashy grand parade of cuteness is heading my way. I think there are seven or …

Ruddy Shelduck - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Ruddy Shelduck

Followers of this blog will know my love for ducks. As soon as I saw this gorgeous ginger specimen, I knew what …

Dunters - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Dunters

Eider Ducks are called Dunters in Orkney. There are great floats of them off the coast. The males have done their job …

Mallard Ducklings - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Counting your Ducklings

There are three sets of Mallard ducklings on my local river. It’s a struggle to keep track of them. For a start, …

Mallard - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Reserved

The sign is clear. This space is reserved. Either this duck can’t read or it’s very, very important.

Mallard Ducklings - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Duckling

They are symbolic of spring; cute fluffy ducklings This parade of Mallard ducklings were barely larger than the eggs that once contained …

Pochard - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Duck!

Ducks are a constant source of comedy. If you want to tell a joke including an animal, a duck is the safest …

Mallard - RSPB Lodmoor - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Mallard malady

This male Mallard looks so healthy in the spring sunshine: It takes a lot of nutritious food to make the complex chemistry …

Gadwall at RSPB Ham Wall - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Gadwall at Ham Wall

There’s a group of five Gadwall making a racket as they fly in ridiculously close formation at RSPB Ham Wall. Close up …

Duckling Dinosaur - The Hal of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Dinosaurs fly among us

If you’ve ever wondered what happened to the dinosaurs, here they are, all around us. These Mallard Ducklings have hatched from eggs …

Duckling - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Easter Duckings

I love ducks. This time of year there are parades of ducklings and their worried parents. Aggressive males peck at the tiny …

Female Goosander - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey

A wild Goosander chase

As I walk down the canal I see a duck with a vicious saw-toothed beak and a brown head. It must be …

Male Mandarin Duck - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey

Male Mandarin

Mandarins are so spectacular it’s hard to believe they’re real, but, as with everything in the natural world, it’s more spectacular than …