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16 Nov 2007 • 1,270 views
 
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photoblog image Pacific Black Duck

Pacific Black Duck

He was sitting alone on the grass and I moved up slowly but was surprised at how close I got. When he moved I realised he only had one leg. It seemed to restrict his flying but once he was in the water he was OK.

Jenoir http://jenoir.shutterchance.com had a photo on her page a couple of days ago of the same duck, so he must live in the park all the time.

Pacific Black Duck

He was sitting alone on the grass and I moved up slowly but was surprised at how close I got. When he moved I realised he only had one leg. It seemed to restrict his flying but once he was in the water he was OK.

Jenoir http://jenoir.shutterchance.com had a photo on her page a couple of days ago of the same duck, so he must live in the park all the time.

comments (18)

Poor fellow! Luckily he has a park where life is a little easier than in the wild.. Nice detailed capture.
Aussie: Thank you for the visit and comment Mary
  • johnnyg
  • Great Britain (UK)
  • 16 Nov 2007, 00:18
Ducks as with all waders have a way of lifting one leg or the other and tucking it up under the wing and hold that position for some time. Are you able to see if that's the case or can you see the stub ? If it has one leg then good luck to him as he looks remarkedly healthy. Him being a mallard.
Aussie: Definately only one leg. If you check out Jenior's shot you can see the stump.
He's a lovely bird. My eye is drawn to that patch of blue and to the eye with its dashing stripe. It's great that you were able to get so close.
Aussie: Very nice colour when they spread their wings.
  • Martin
  • United States
  • 16 Nov 2007, 00:39
The gators must have gotten its leg, I imagine. The dangers of the deep can make a duck's life very difficult!
Aussie: No it would have been a croc.
  • Ginnie
  • United States
  • 16 Nov 2007, 02:42
Awww. Alive and well and not complaining. A lesson to us all. I'm like Red Pen, drawn to that patch of turquoise blue!
Aussie: The patch looks quite amazing when they fly. I'm still trying to get a decent shot of that.
  • Ginnie
  • United States
  • 16 Nov 2007, 02:43
I called you Red Pen and meant Aussie. sad I know who you are!!!
A photo with very shining colors, but this time I believe that you must have composed the scene of another form, for example, I see stranger who the duck is in the left, when "the natural" position would be the right. He is asi? Good WE
Aussie: Thank you for your visit and welcome comments. Your right, there was an ugly patch of dirt at the front of him, so I cropped it out.
Poor duck !
Nice shot though !
Aussie: I have visited the park every morning after working night shift this week and he has been there and he doesn't seem to handicapped by his missing leg. I've also seen the two little welcome swallows each morning and they are always perched on the pontoon.
Aw, poor chap! Mind you, he seems to be thriving. Lovely capture. (:o)
Aussie: He seems quite happy here, there are two Islands for the birds to retreat to if thet feel threatened.
As they say here. "Does a one legged duck swim in circles?" Nice shot Aussie
Aussie: No he can swim however he wants, but I did notice it takes him more effort you can actually see his leg working as he swims.
Nice shot. Being located on the left or the right of the picture, what's the difference. Do we have to be conventional?
Aussie: Thank you for your comment Richard. I don't tend to be conventional because i strictly take the pics for enjoyment.
  • Tracy
  • Great Britain (UK)
  • 16 Nov 2007, 11:29
The sheen on the feathers is lovely, pity the little one only has one leg.Cool shot.
Good looking duck, well seen.
Nice colours. very warm very beautiful.
  • Mal
  • 16 Nov 2007, 14:32
Bill stole my thunder! lol Nice shot Aussie. mal
  • Louis
  • South Africa
  • 16 Nov 2007, 16:30
Great detail

It is ever so slightly overexposed. You could have fixed it in photoshop. Still a great pic
  • Scarlet
  • Netherlands
  • 16 Nov 2007, 21:38
That piece of blue is a very nice touch. Poor duck I feel so sorry for it.
  • Ellie
  • England
  • 16 Nov 2007, 21:43
I don't think I've ever seen one of these ducks before, it's beautiful.

Amazing, isn't it, how wild creatures cope with losing a limb. We have a Collared Dove visiting our garden that has only one leg. I'm amazed to see it land on tiny little branches without any particular problem.

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for this photo I'm in a any and all comments icon ShMood©
camera Canon EOS 5D
exposure mode program mode
shutterspeed 1/160s
aperture f/5.6
sensitivity ISO100
focal length 200.0mm
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