Mallard duckling swimming in White Water Crowfoot – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/2000, ISO 640, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
This morning I am sharing photos of Mallard ducklings and blooming White Water Crowfoot taken in a creek high in the Wasatch Mountains. These young Mallard ducklings are still in the cute floofy stage of life and I can’t resist them. The aquatic White Water Crowfoot in bloom is the icing on my photographic cake.
This Mallard duckling was surrounded by the tiny white blooms of the White Water Crowfoot (Ranunculus aquatilis) which is a great place for aquatic invertebrates to hide. Mallards eat the aquatic vegetation of this plant and the invertebrates hidden in them.
Mallard duckling preening in a creek with White Water Crowfoot blooms – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 640, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The floofy little ducklings were the focus of my attention when I took these photos of them. I adore seeing the Mallards so high in the Wasatch Mountains and the ducklings are just too cute to pass on.
White Water Crowfoot blossoms – Nikon D500, f18, 1/250, ISO 400, -1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Later in the morning after the White Water Crowfoot blooms had fully opened in the morning sun I spent a bit of time fully focused on this native aquatic wildflower. The individual blooms are tiny at only 0.3 to 0.6 inches across. Here in northern Utah I see them blooming from around May until the end of August.
White Water Crowfoot in bloom – Nikon D500, f18, 1/250, ISO 400, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
White Water Crowfoot forms mats where they grow in slow moving areas of streams and creeks. In some areas the mats can be quite large and show hundreds, even thousands, of individual blooms. Other names for the aquatic wildflower include Common Water-Crowfoot, White Water Buttercup, and White Water-Crowfoot with a hyphen.
Photographing the cute Mallard ducklings was fun and the White Water Crowfoot flowers made it even better for me.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Mallard photos plus facts and information about this species. Click here to see more of my wildflower, shrub and tree photos.
The duckling shots are wonderful. And your narrative about the White Water Crowfoot was very interesting. Thanks Mia.
Wow that last image is amazing! I have not seen so many in one spot!
The duckling is adorable and the crowfoot the icing on the cake.