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Birds, Insects & Bats in flight (outdoors) Page 43
Image Taken on 16 Apr 2014
at 09:03 Image of day on 30 May 2014
This male Mallard duck is flying in to join 'his' female.
There are 4 frames here, the last sees the splashdown near the bottom
left corner. This is about half a second of action.
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20140530_df2_20140416_0903_306-309 mallard duck male landing in pond to meet female @ 7fps 1-4 of 8 (acc montage)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Apr 2013
at 17:45 Image of day on 12 May 2013
This male Mallard duck gave up harassing a pair in flight and did
a rather nice sweep to land on the bank of the duck-shaped pond.
This is an accurate montage at about 7 fps at the start (top
right) for 5 frames then alternate frames for the next 3 and then
3 frames skipped for the last.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20130512_df1_20130402_1745_172-186 mallard duck male landing on bank of duck pond 01-05+07+09+11+15 of 20 (accurate montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 02 Apr 2013
at 17:45 Image of day on 12 May 2013
The landing, though, was a bit heavy - ducks landing on land often are.
The thump will have been taken by the strong breastbone (called the 'keel')
that provides attachments for the powerful wing muscles. The back end bounces
up showing the legs.
(r+mb id@432).jpg)
Ref: 20130512_df1_20130402_1745_189 mallard duck male landing on bank of duck pond 18 of 20 (crop for heavy landing)(r+mb id@432).jpg
Image Taken on 09 May 2013
at 07:21 Image of day on 15 Jun 2013
A male Mallard, starting the lose some of his bright green head
feather, flew by giving us a gentle quack.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20130615_df1_20130509_0721_129-132 mallard duck male quacking in flight 2-5 of 9 (arb montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Apr 2016
at 15:41 Image of day on 11 May 2016
This male Mallard Duck made a tidy takeoff as Marie walked up the path to
the Duck-shaped pond. All 5 frames are spread horizontally at about 7fps.
In the first 3 you can see how he dips down to give himself a launching spring.
This is less than 1 second of action.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20160511_df3_20160405_1541_049+051-054 mallard duck male takeoff from bank of duck pond 1+3-6 of 6 (horizontally spread montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 05 Apr 2016
at 15:42 Image of day on 11 May 2016
A closer view of the next to last frame of the montage.
(r+mb id@576).jpg)
Ref: 20160511_df3_20160405_1542_053 mallard duck male takeoff from bank of duck pond 5 of 6 (crop)(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 13 Apr 2023
at 15:24 Image of day on 24 May 2023
The cameraman arrives near the pond to find a male Mallard Duck quietly floating
on the water. A handful of seconds as the photographer aims and focusses before
the bird decides on a prompt departure - 'Discretion is the better part of Valour' -
the ducks here are not 'tame' like you find at the local park.
The camera was too zoomed in (and the cameraman too surprised) to catch the bird
in their vertical rise, but the water does make an interesting 'frozen in action' including
an airborne swirl at the right edge.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20230524_df3_20230413_1524_016+017 mallard duck male vertical take-off from main pond 1+2 of 3 (montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Mar 2013
at 12:26 Image of day on 21 Apr 2013
We currently have 2 pairs of Mallard Ducks feeding in our ponds.
Here one pair circled the site a couple of times before choosing
the pond furthest from us. Here is a one frame close-up
(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20130421_df1_20130314_1226_023 mallard duck pair in flight 06 of 10 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 14 Mar 2013
at 12:26 Image of day on 21 Apr 2013
This pair of Mallard ducks were photographed at about 7 fps.
Ducks really do fly fast - this is half a second of flight in an
accurate montage (based on cloud perceived motion being MUCH slower).
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20130421_df1_20130314_1226_024-027 mallard duck pair in flight 07-10 of 10 (accurate montage @ 7fps)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 24 Mar 2017
at 16:48 Image of day on 03 May 2017
A slightly delayed feeding time - a pair of Mallard ducks fly by (at 7 fps so
they fly at s-p-e-e-d) but decide against landing until the humans have gone.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20170503_df3_20170324_1648_045-047 mallard duck pair in flight 1-3 of 3 (accurate montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 20 May 2020
at 07:18 Image of day on 10 Jun 2020
A pair of Mallard Ducks whizz by.
This is all in less than one third of a second - Ducks fly FAST!
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20200610_df3_20200520_0718_141-143 mallard duck pair in flight 4-6 of 6 (accurate montage @7fps)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 27 May 2019
at 17:32 Image of day on 05 Jul 2019
A genuine moment from 3 Mallard Ducks in flight. The female (left) and two males
flew past, perhaps 100m away.
 in flight 2 of 3 (crop in tight formation)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20190705_df5_20190527_1732_049 3 mallard ducks (female + 2 males) in flight 2 of 3 (crop in tight formation)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 27 May 2019
at 17:32 Image of day on 05 Jul 2019
A few seconds later, this time against some blue sky, the female has moved to the front.
 in flight 3 of 3 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg)
Ref: 20190705_df5_20190527_1732_066 3 mallard ducks (female + 2 males) in flight 3 of 3 (crop)(r+mb id@768).jpg
Image Taken on 19 May 2013
at 12:07 Image of day on 30 Jun 2013
The Mallard ducks are still with us - we expect them to vanish
when they moult. We have not seen any ducklings yet and may not -
most years they are promptly marched down to the local brook dodging
the traffic :-(
Here is a typical flyby - a female with 2 males. Females seem to
be able to fly faster than the males as here (female in the
middle) - she started behind the males and ended up in front.
 5-7 of 9 (arbitrary montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20130630_df1_20130519_1207_438-440 3 mallard ducks in flight (female between 2 males) 5-7 of 9 (arbitrary montage)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 30 Apr 2016
at 16:33 Image of day on 05 Jun 2016
The two Mallard Drakes chasing one (female) Duck is a fairly common sight.
This skyful of ducks is an accurate montage of 6 sequential frames of the action.
The female ends at the lower left and is the lowest bird for the previous 5 images.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20160605_df3_20160430_1633_034-039 3 mallard ducks in flight 1-6 of 6 (accurate montage @ 6fps)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 10 Sep 2020
at 07:07 Image of day on 24 Oct 2020
Mallard ducks moult by losing all their flight feathers and staying safe on the water.
As they end the moult they start 'exercising' in groups for flights lasting several minutes.
Here a group of 4 (plus a 'tail-end-Charlie' we have left out) flew round the brook several
times, a lot of the time with their wings beating in accurate synchrony as here.
(r+mb id@1024).jpg)
Ref: 20201024_d73_20200910_0707_124-126 4 mallard ducks in flight with wings in unison 1-3 of 4 (approx montage @10fps)(r+mb id@1024).jpg
Image Taken on 04 Apr 2009
at 16:20 Image of day on 26 Apr 2009
... and an unrelated flight on the next day.
.jpg)
Ref: 20090426_db1_20090404_1620_157 mallard female & 2 males in flight(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 16 Mar 2009
at 17:38 Image of day on 02 Apr 2009
When walk about at this time of year we often disturb mallard ducks
at one or more ponds. These are 'wild' ducks rather than park ducks
looking for handouts! The female is between two males.
.jpg)
Ref: 20090402_db1_20090316_1738_020 mallard female and 2 males in flight at sunset(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 16 Mar 2009
at 17:38 Image of day on 02 Apr 2009
The females often keep going until none but the fittest male is
left. Here the male at the rear is beginning to tire.
.jpg)
Ref: 20090402_db1_20090316_1738_046 mallard female and 2 males in flight at sunset(r+mb id@576).jpg
Image Taken on 09 Apr 2008
at 16:02 Image of day on 25 Apr 2008
... and now Her ...
.jpg)
Ref: 20080425_da1_20080409_1602_020 mallard female in flight(r+mb id@576).jpg
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