Side-by-side Shovelers

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Side-by-side Shovelers

January 2, 2015 by Mike Powell

Last week, when the weather was a bit warmer and the ponds had not yet frozen over at my local marshland park, I managed to get some shots of a pair of Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata) in action.

I quickly realized that trying to photograph two birds, rather than a single one as I usually do, significantly magnified the difficulty in getting a good shot. The two North Shovelers rarely would stay together and would wander in and out of the frame. Even worse, one of them would move closer or farther away, challenging my ability to keep them both in focus.

Northern Shovelers forage by swimming along with their bills in the water, straining out food, and never seem to completely submerge their heads. I was happy that I was able to capture some shots in which the eyes are visible, even though the bills are in the water.

I really like the first image, because the positions of the male and the female are synchronized, yet I also really like the second image, because the positions are completely out of synch. I may be confused, or perhaps a lot of different things appeal to me, depending on how I consider them.

Posted in Art, Birds, Nature, Photography, Portraits, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Alexandria VA, Anas clypeata, Canon 50D, Huntley Meadows Park, Northern Shoveler, Tamron 150-600mm telephoto | 9 Comments

9 Responses

on January 2, 2015 at 7:24 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

I like both shots but when I think of waterfowl the second photo comes to mind-one on the lookout while the other feeds.
on January 2, 2015 at 8:13 am | Reply donna213

I like the second one better too for the reason of the comment above. It seems more in keeping with the behavior of the ducks.
on January 2, 2015 at 1:08 pm | Reply Ginny Alfano

I love the Shoveler’s, Mike. So glad you posted this. I like the second one because the bill is showing – I am always amazed by the size! They certainly are aptly named!! I hope you have a wonderful New Year with many more great photo opportunities 🙂 .
- on January 4, 2015 at 4:45 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Ginny. I remember well the first time that I saw the bill of a Northern Shoveler and how showed I was by its shape. I often chuckle too at the bird’s name, because I grew up in Massachusetts and during the winter was often a northern shoveler myself.
on January 2, 2015 at 3:45 pm | Reply Chris

Gorgeous – love both shots and the reflections of the males colour in the water around them both. Beautiful captures, Mike. Chris
- on January 4, 2015 at 4:41 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. These birds are amazingly beautiful, but most often they stay pretty far out in the water and it’s tough to capture images. These too were unusually cooperative.
on January 3, 2015 at 6:05 pm | Reply Marie Keates

Both are great and I like the contrasting colours in the water too.
on January 3, 2015 at 9:48 pm | Reply Charlie@Seattle Trekker

I love that they work together so that both can eat…It is the way it should be.
on January 7, 2015 at 5:46 am | Reply Big bills after Christmas | Mike Powell

[…] during the holidays. Instead it is a response to one viewer’s comments on a recent posting that showed a pair of foraging Northern Shovelers (Anas clypeata) with their heads almost buried in […]