But cold it was, anyway, with temperatures sufficiently low to freeze the surface of a local duck pond - not solid - but enough in places to require a Ferruginous Duck - and, indeed, other species - to scramble up onto the ice to allow it to get from one thawed-out spot to another in search of food. As graceful as ducks are on water, they are somewhat ungainly on land, and in particular, ice. Getting a grip, as it were, is not possible, so they slid from A to B on their bellies (photo).
I photographed waterfowl at this location last March, and as far as I can tell it is the same bird. Now, my reference book of British birds and waterfowl maintains that the featured species of duck is a rare visitor to the UK, with as few as 30 sightings a year recorded. Maybe this particular chap came to visit and decided to stay. Anyway it's in Throop, Dorset, if you want to have a look for yourself.
300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/1250 second at f/5.6. + 0.67 EV compensation. ISO 400. Monopod
© 2012
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