It was raining on the eastern coast all day today..................
Typical. Just as I start a bit of a holiday too................
This Mandarin drake was at the side of a mountain road next to a small pond.
And this pair of Harlequin Ducks were in one of the ports sjeltering from the rough seas.
Not much else around, my first Blue and White Flycatcher of the summer, Red Flanked Bluetail, Long Tailed Rosefinch, Peregrine, Hawfinch and the usual common stuff here and there.
I have a book devoted entirely to Mandarins and Wood Ducks, surely two of the most brilliantly plumaged birds in all the world. Obviously we only have the Wood Duck here, but fortunately it is quite common and not difficult to find. As you know there is a sizeable population of Madarins in the UK now.
ReplyDeleteI read somewhere that the naturalized Mandarins in Europe are faring better than the original wild ones in east Asia these days............
DeleteThey are very shy in Hokkaido, they are probably much easier to photograph in the UK.
I recall photographing Mandarins on the river Stour - lured with bread....no long lens needed!
DeleteWouldn't work here John..........
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