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Sunday, January 25, 2009

DUCK SNOOP!-RAMSEY CRITTERS

I spy with my little eye - a mad woman with a camera


The female Mallard on the grass verge of Mooragh Promenade concludes our week around the beach of Ramsey. Well actually both beaches. Ducks and swans don't usually venture as far as the beach opting for the main harbour or smaller harbour inlet, but occasionally we get these wanderers who venture a little further afield. Mallards have to be the most recognizable of ducks male or female and they are certainly the most common. Apparently the Mallard and the Muscovy featured last week are the considered to be the ancestors of almost all domestic ducks. As you can see this one was nonchanlantly pretending to ignore me, but that beady eye followed me around. When snooping on birds a telephoto lens is advisable.


I've just been reminded by G that it is the R.S.P.B (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) Great Garden Bird Watch. Householder's watch their garden, balcony, patio, yard for roughly an hour and record the birds they see. It's a way to keep check of birding habits numbers etc. I'm sure I won't be the only one taking an hour out this weekend to sit and watch and record the birds, and I'm sure I'll have the camera to record the results. 


One blog you should check out this week if you are into your wildlife and want to delve deeper, 
Lancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safaris: 
You will enjoy this one, very informative wildlife blog. Dave is an expert and friendly chap.
Misty Dawn is the critter lady, and other critters are there too.
Don't forget to join us on Facebook - click the logo, more island stuff there.



Last week was the beaches of Ramsey. This week from tomorrow will be Reflections week and I have some terrific images lined up for your viewing pleasure. Personally I enjoyed taking them more than any other image recently. Not as straightforward as you might think. What do you plan to post next week? 


Ps. Please remember these images are copyrighted. Thank You.
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49 comments:

  1. George TownboyJanuary 24, 2009 at 11:34 PM

    I learn something new every time I visit your exquisite blog and view your outstanding images!!

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  2. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2009 at 11:35 PM

    I love the duckie photo, as I do all of your work. :-)

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  3. myonlyphotoJanuary 24, 2009 at 11:41 PM

    What a nice duck photo, snuggly. Anna :)

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  4. Profile Not AvailableJanuary 24, 2009 at 11:54 PM

    Lovely photo! Great detail!

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  5. AppleDebbieJanuary 24, 2009 at 11:56 PM

    Wonderful photo. When you enlarge it you can see all of the details in her feathers. Very nicely done!

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  6. brattcatJanuary 25, 2009 at 12:17 AM

    Oh, now isn't this one something to quack about? Splendid photo.

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  7. BruceJanuary 25, 2009 at 12:30 AM

    Sometimes I do that with my head too...ha ha!
    Love your photo:)
    Bruce

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  8. PJJanuary 25, 2009 at 12:36 AM

    I'm very fond of tucked duckies...

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  9. Adrienne ZwartJanuary 25, 2009 at 12:43 AM

    This is so cute!

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  10. Small City ScenesJanuary 25, 2009 at 1:00 AM

    She may look like she is sleeping---but she's got her eye on you. MB

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  11. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 1:01 AM

    A humdinger of a photograph. Thanks for the Viking link. It works fine.

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  12. EkiJanuary 25, 2009 at 1:39 AM

    she's probably curious of the camera and the lady behind it ... :D

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  13. SnapJanuary 25, 2009 at 1:51 AM

    I love the duck and your blog. Beautiful! Thanks for visiting.

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  14. GeorgeJanuary 25, 2009 at 2:11 AM

    Thanks for another wonderful photo. I'm glad you kept a lens on the duck keeping an eye on you.

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  15. DrowseyMonkey-PhotosJanuary 25, 2009 at 2:15 AM

    Oh! This is gorgeous! What a wonderful photo!

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  16. ManzJanuary 25, 2009 at 2:26 AM

    When I have an itch on my back, I wish I could turn my head a full 180 degrees - get to that spot alot easier!

    People should check out the enlarged image also - the detail in the feathers in so tactile for 2dimensional medium.

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  17. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 2:54 AM

    Babs, I am not sure about you showing the larger image. Let me explain. There are a lot of unscrupulous people out there who will rip off your astonishing work. I admire you for showing us the finite detailing of your photographs, I really appreciate seeing the detail enlarged but who else is viewing? Those that can take advantage. Blogs are fun, but a website exclusive to purchase is the only way forward. Not being negative just practical. I would buy this in a heartbeat.

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  18. BLSJanuary 25, 2009 at 3:33 AM

    This looks like a duck guarding a nest of eggs or ducklings. Sometimes the duck will choose to let the ducklings walk in longer grass fields.

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  19. CarlettaJanuary 25, 2009 at 4:04 AM

    A really great closeup!

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  20. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 4:29 AM

    Awesome capture Babooshka! Sometimes I feel that the female Mallard is prettier than the male and your photo depicts that very well. Gorgeous shot!

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  21. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 4:29 AM

    Aww..she doesn't have a beady eye..She has a pretty eye..but I love the mallards....

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  22. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 4:59 AM

    I love the duck photo. Actually I love all your photos! Thank you for your comments and I look forward to coming back here more often. :)

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  23. CarolinaJanuary 25, 2009 at 10:26 AM

    Beautiful photo! Thanks for commenting on my lazy pets on the Easy Living sofa. Just saw your comment on the Vulture CC-entry. About it being very timely because of the garden birdwatching thing you have in the UK. Gave me a big smile! Imagine if you saw a great big vulture landing in your garden! ;-)

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  24. Mamapippa ...January 25, 2009 at 10:56 AM

    Duck photos are always great, but this is also a sweet one !

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  25. me ann my cameraJanuary 25, 2009 at 12:11 PM

    This is a gorgeous photo! So much is captured in such a close view. Love the details and designs that are so wonderfully displayed with this pose. Lovely. Happy Camera Critters!

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  26. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 1:23 PM

    It is a very pretty Mallard.

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  27. This Is My Blog - fishing guyJanuary 25, 2009 at 2:05 PM

    Babooshka: Nice shot of the duck, they are hard to shoot if they tuck their head away.

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  28. Reader WilJanuary 25, 2009 at 2:32 PM

    Wonderful mallard. Next Saturday I am going on a sea bird watching tour by bus to Zeeland, one of our southern provinces on the coast.
    Today we have also the Great Garden Bird Watch. We have to count the birds visiting our gardens. The problem is when I see a Great Tit, and it flows away, and a bit later I see a Great Tit again, I don't know if it's the same one or a second one.

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  29. NevaJanuary 25, 2009 at 4:04 PM

    Very nice that she stayed still for you!

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  30. angelaJanuary 25, 2009 at 4:14 PM

    Sleeping with one eye open..the detail on those feathers is exquisite..

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  31. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 5:06 PM

    Eye Eye.

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  32. jonemoJanuary 25, 2009 at 5:41 PM

    What a wonderful closeup! I love your pictures, you seem to live in a wonderful place *makingnotewheretospendthenextholiday* Thanks for stopping by at Ithaca Daily Photo.

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  33. laxeylassJanuary 25, 2009 at 5:42 PM

    Maybe she is just keeping an eye egg thieves. We used to have many egg thieves in a Laxey as a child. The detail in the feathers is really good.

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  34. i beatiJanuary 25, 2009 at 5:48 PM

    interesting material Sandy

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  35. JoyJanuary 25, 2009 at 6:30 PM

    The duck seemed shy!

    Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comments.


    joy
    A Pinay In England
    Your Love Coach
    I, Woman

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  36. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 7:23 PM

    She could be guarding. Sweet photo.

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  37. UnknownJanuary 25, 2009 at 7:35 PM

    Great shot and good use of dof.

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  38. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 8:53 PM

    Ho, it is soooo cute!

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  39. Samantha ~ Holly and Zac ~January 25, 2009 at 9:35 PM

    Thank you for your comments on my blog.

    That is a gorgeous photo. I love watching birds. :-)

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  40. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 9:37 PM

    I had just learned that about the Muscovy and Mallard. I've always thought the Muscovy looked a bit prehistoric :-) Very nice shot...I wonder why ducks tuck their noses in their feathers to sleep...not enough to cover the eyes...which I presume is for the ability to respond to danger quickly.

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  41. imacJanuary 25, 2009 at 9:45 PM

    At least the Mad Woman with a camera isnt Quackers.lol
    Sorry could-not resist,lol.
    Great week of beach shots and I love reflections.

    Thanks for the visit and your kind comments.

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  42. UnknownJanuary 25, 2009 at 9:45 PM

    I love the green in that photo. So lush.

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  43. AnonymousJanuary 25, 2009 at 10:03 PM

    That's a lovely photo - really warm. I forgot about the birdwatch hour - think it's a bit dark now, I doubt I'd see much!

    Next week I'm planning some more Celtic Connections pics, a wee bit of Burns, plus a bit of credit crunching.

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  44. Marie ReedJanuary 25, 2009 at 10:35 PM

    I feel like his cute little eye is following me too!!

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  45. AnonymousJanuary 26, 2009 at 5:53 AM

    Nature has a way of knowing that we are watching. Nice Post. Have a great Week!

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  46. ToniJanuary 26, 2009 at 8:28 PM

    Wow, awesome picture!!!

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  47. MojoJanuary 26, 2009 at 9:35 PM

    Cool shot. It almost makes you think she's shy... unless you know she's just preening.

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  48. WillardJanuary 27, 2009 at 12:37 AM

    Wonderful photos as always.

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  49. UnknownJanuary 27, 2009 at 5:08 PM

    Wow, awesome photo! So cute :D

    -Emily

    http://www.my-little-halo.blogspot.com

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