Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2010/01/10

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Subject: [Leica] IMG: more Goldeneye ducks
From: photo at frozenlight.eu (Nathan Wajsman)
Date: Mon, 11 Jan 2010 07:14:19 +0100
References: <28083315.1263056192684.JavaMail.root@wamui-june.atl.sa.earthlink.net>

The excellence of your photography is only matched by your knowledge of the 
species you photograph.

Cheers,
Nathan

Nathan Wajsman
Alicante, Spain
http://www.frozenlight.eu
http://www.greatpix.eu
http://www.nathanfoto.com

Books: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/search?search=wajsman&x=0&y=0
PICTURE OF THE WEEK: http://www.fotocycle.dk/paws
Blog: http://www.fotocycle.dk/blog



On Jan 9, 2010, at 5:56 PM, Doug Herr wrote:

> Friday morning I spent a few hours at the state fish hatchery at Nimbus 
> Dam, a few minutes from home.  The hatchery's water outflow often contains 
> small fish (or portions of fish), a fact not lost on the local birds.  A 
> portion of the outflow is let into a settling pond where it eventually 
> makes its way through percolation and direct flow to the American River, a 
> few meters below the hatchery.
> 
> Many of the local birds consider the settling pond to be a prime feeding 
> area so among some species, the Common Goldeneye among them, 'turf' wars 
> are fought over the best locations.  Yesterday two pairs of Goldeneyes 
> plus one bachelor male staked claims to the pond.
> 
> When a neighboring Goldeneye gets too close to your claimed area, the 
> first level of threat is to lower the head and aim toward the interloper:
> 
> http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/cogo04.html
> 
> Both male and female Goldeneyes use this threat posture, but if the 
> neighbor doesn't back off the male will go to level two threat, where he 
> tosses his head back and makes a sound that is best described as a mix of 
> a purr and a soft growl:
> 
> http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/cogo03.html
> 
> Note the female of this pair has maintained the level one threat posture.  
> A physical battle often takes place underwater which is out of the range 
> of my camera's design parameters.  Once the winner is decided (home court 
> is a big advantage) the loser makes a hasty retreat:
> 
> http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/cogo06.html
> http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/cogo07.html
> 
> which is followed by the winner's victory dance:
> 
> http://wildlightphoto.com/birds/anatidae/cogo05.html
> 
> all photos: R8/DMR, 560mm f/6.8 Telyt, shoulder stock & monopod.  All 
> comments welcome.
> 
> 
> Doug Herr
> Birdman of Sacramento
> http://www.wildlightphoto.com
> 
> 
> 
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> 



In reply to: Message from wildlightphoto at earthlink.net (Doug Herr) ([Leica] IMG: more Goldeneye ducks)