After several days of grey overcast skies it was a pleasure to go for a stroll around Richmond Park today and be able to capture a few of the local residents enjoying the sunshine.
The camera got quite a lot of bashing so to kick things off I thought I would share some images of the delightful Tufted Duck (Ayhya fuligula).
As is typical of many species the female is less colourful than the male but she also sports that little tuft on the rear of her rounded head and the very distinctive yellow eye.
The male in his typical black coat with prominent rectangular white flanks. In a mature adult the crest will eventually lengthen and droop nearly onto its back.
The head colour also appears to change, showing a bluish hue, as the light catches the head feathers.
There was plenty of other activity around the park and I'll share those images in a future post.
FAB.
Hi Frank...in the third picture the misses is very pretty and soft looking with lovely eyes..: }}
ReplyDeleteHe isn't such a bad looking guy himself!!
Beautiful photos of the Tufted Duck!!
Hope all is well with you!!
You captured some beautiful images of the Tufted Duck! Lovely colors. That little tuft is so very appealing. Wonderful!
ReplyDeleteGreat serie of a wonderfull duck ;)
ReplyDeleteSuper series of photos, Richard! Their coloring is so rich and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOften overlooked in a group on the water, but when the sun catches them, they reveal their subtle colours.
ReplyDeleteYour Duck series is just so nice, but that last one really pops.
ReplyDeleteLovely Tuftie shots Frank, dont know about your end but here they are right little posers on the lakes at the moment because everyone's feeding them.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures Frank. It is a beautiful duck and I often try to make photos of it when I have th time and nothing else under the wings ;-)
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Pictures from every angle; they should be in a birding guide!
ReplyDeleteGreat series of shots and the essay is good also. Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely beautiful images. I love this duck. They have personality. I especially like the dark brown heads with the yellow eyes and the tuft. Great. Carol
ReplyDeleteMuch better shots than I got of the recent Tufties seen on my patch Frank, but I was just pleased to see some :-)
ReplyDeleteLovely images of a beautiful bird.
ReplyDeleteHi Grammie. Glad you approve of Mr and Mrs Tuftie. Alls well at this end.
ReplyDeleteHi Julie. Thanks. The little tastle is very endearing.
Cheers Dominic.
Hi Cindy. Thanks but my name is Frank (FAB).
Hi Keith. Bit difficult to miss at the moment with so many around. The little bit of sunshine certainly helps to show off their appeal.
Thanks Mona. I kept hoping he would come a little bit closer.
Hi Monty. Yes, they certainly react fairly promptly to a hand out.
Cheers Chris. I agree you can usually rely upon them to pose for a while.
Thanks Hilke but I'm not sure they are quite that good.
Hi Gary. Thanks very much.
Hi Carol. Yes, a delightfully smart little duck.
Hi Warren. It's been a long time since I spotted one on my local patch pond but they are a sure find in Richmond Park.
What a great session you had with the Tufted duck. Your photographs are very rich and I clearly see the bluish cast to those brown feathers. Superb! ;-)WBW
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of the Ducks and that little tuft is rather cute!
ReplyDeleteThat little tuft looks like what we would call a "cow lick" Great series of images!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Andrew.
ReplyDeleteSpringman. Appreciate the compliment.
mick. Cheers, it is a dapper little duck.
Kerri. 'cow lick' ... I'll try to remember that for future reference.
Frank, these images are all exceptional, gorgeous and the colours of your subjects delicious, love them all. Hope you are doing well~
ReplyDeleteThank you Mary. The ducks were enjoying the sunshine as much as me.
ReplyDeleteIn the middle of the London. Who'd have thought.
ReplyDeleteBTW, have you seen any waxwings?
I am still hoping that they will come down from the midlands. What tree would they prefer? Crataegus? All my berries have gone.
Oh well..
Nice series of photos. What a pretty little duck!
ReplyDeleteYou caught these beautifully Frank with the sunlight just in the right place. (Sunlight, did I say sunlight?)
ReplyDeletejoco. There is a lot of wildlife in London. Numerous reports of Waxwings in and around Surrey but I haven't caught up with any yet. They have a wide diet.
ReplyDeleteThanks Pat.
Yes Roy, the sunshine was somewhat brief! Just glad I was out at the right time.
Lovely photos Frank, I think the Tufties are very attractive, it's that glowing eye I think! You were lucky with the light too.
ReplyDeleteShySongbird. Thanks Jan. Yes a dapper duck with a glint in its eye.
ReplyDeleteNice close ups Frank.
ReplyDeleteFrank glad to see you got some sunshine. My favorite image of this post has to be the last one. The way that yellow eye stands out against the dark chocolate head and the white bill adds contrast is gorgeous. Carol
ReplyDeleteThanks Angie.
ReplyDeleteHi Carol. Yes, some sunshine at last which allowed a few decent pics including the male Tuftie.
Wonderful Tufted captures. You got the irridescence of the head just right and the eye highlight in the hen is perfect. Your bird photography is enviable.
ReplyDeleteThank you Robin. I'm sure the camera deserves more praise than the operator ... sometimes things turn out better than you expect.
ReplyDelete