Mandarin Duck

Posted on | February 15, 2010 | 8 Comments

Mandarin Duck

I had only seen one mandarin duck before but didn’t get a picture of it so this has been on my trophy photo list for a while now. I didn’t expect to see one on Saturday but I caught a fleeting glimpse of it from afar when the ladies near me asked what I was looking for. “I think I saw an orange duck but it left before I could get a good look.” “That was a mandarin duck.” “Nice! That is what I thought it was.” So I walked around both sides of the lagoon multiple times (with a 500mm f4 lens + tripod) but didn’t see it until more than an hour later on the opposite shoreline. Eventually it came over to my side and in fact, too close on a several photos but I did manage a few clear pictures of the mandarin duck. It is the prettiest bird I have ever seen by far.

Mandarin Duck Portrait

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Comments

8 Responses to “Mandarin Duck”

Ron Niebrugge
February 15th, 2010 @ 10:45 am

Those are great Richard! They sure are beautiful birds.

Did you get a sidekick, or are you just muscling that lens around?

Ron
Richard Wong
February 15th, 2010 @ 2:01 pm

Thanks Ron. Yes, I was “muscling that lens around”. Accurate description.
Mark
February 20th, 2010 @ 8:04 am

I am envious Richard – these are beautiful birds.
Richard
February 20th, 2010 @ 1:43 pm

Thanks Mark.
Leann Greene
February 28th, 2010 @ 3:37 pm

Congrats on crossing another subject off the trophy list. A truly stunning creature-love the water- dropleton the beak.
Richard Wong
February 28th, 2010 @ 5:39 pm

Thanks Leann. My mom was also commenting that she liked the top photo because of the water drop on the beak. That isn’t something that I immediately noticed so it’s good to have another pair of eyes.
David Leland Hyde
March 3rd, 2010 @ 2:39 am

Wonderful and colorful photographs, Richard. All your Duck photos are top notch in my opinion, especially this one and the Wood Duck with the reflection. Very nice.
Richard Wong
March 3rd, 2010 @ 1:46 pm

Thanks David.