Feeding Northern Shovelers – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1600, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Early in December while at Farmington Bay WMA I was able to photograph and take videos of Northern Shovelers feeding on Glover Pond. The water on the pond was still open and the shovelers were feeding in a whirling circle. Some of the ducks still had frost on their backs from the long cold night.
I should have taken off my teleconverter to take the video so a wider view of the Northern Shovelers could be seen as they whirled around on the icy water.
I also wish I had been able to put my gear on my tripod so that the video would have been clearer and sharper.
But I think the circular motion of the shovelers was interesting as they fed. I have no idea what they were feeding on, I wish I did.
Since the day I took this photo and the video of these long-billed dabbling ducks the pond has frozen over completely and I won’t see any feeding ducks there for quite some time.
I overslept this morning, I had more to say but this will have to do.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Northern Shoveler photos plus facts and information about this species.
Wow — so coordinated. It look like a clip from a silent movie. Thank you for sharing this wonder with us!
Gee, you could get dizzy watching that video. Whatever it was, they sure were feasting on it. You must have needed that extra sleep.
The video shows an amazing, incredibly choreographed performance.
I suspect you NEEDED that sleep.
Photos are great. Sleep is wonderfulo