Preening drake goosander

I've mentioned before the obliging nature of some goosanders on the River Wye at Ross that now swim with the semi-tame mallards that people feed. Recently I've noted males and females preening as they drift about with the other waterbirds, a behaviour that seems to suggest they are comfortable near people. Preening allows the birds to put their feathers neatly together so they can fly, swim and dive most efficiently. It is also cleans the plumage and keeps parasites at bay. They can also spread preen oil from a gland near the tail that helps the waterproofing of the feathers. This male took little notice of me as I took my shot.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Eagle feathers...

...of a sort are common in many English churches. However, they are made of brass and come in the form of a lectern holding a bible that is in the shape of a brass eagle on a stand. These occasionally date from the medieval period, are sometimes seventeenth or eighteenth century, but most often are Victorian and feature a dedicatory inscription. Such lecterns are usually below and to one side of the chancel arch and make a fine focal point during a service when a passage is read from the bible held on the wings of the eagle. The feathers above are coloured by the reflected surroundings in Great Malvern Priory, Worcestershire.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Little Egret

Though by tradition February 14th (Valentine's Day) is the date birds pair up for the breeding season the following month is when many species start to show mating behaviours. As the bird in this photograph shows, the little egrets on the River Wye at Ross on Wye have developed the long plumes characteristic of their breeding season. These slender, decorative feathers were much prized, along with those of other species, by nineteenth century hat makers who topped off their fashionable creations with groups of trailing plumes. It took hard work by early twentieth century activists such as Etta Lemon (yes, really!), one of the founder members of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, before this fashion was abandoned.


photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

The duck speculum

The speculum is a patch of colour on the secondary flight feathers of many species of duck. Each type of duck has a specific colour and often this is iridescent. It can be a useful clue to bird identification, particularly when birds are immature or in moult. The photograph shows the speculum of Britain's most common duck, the mallard. It is iridescent purple/blue with black and white edges. This species has interbred with domestic ducks and frequently the speculum of the hybrid is a clue to the parentage of one half of the union.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

Drake mandarin duck

On a stagnant, slime-infested pool, home to a single moorhen, a coot and a few passing mallards, we saw a remarkable sight - a drake mandarin duck slowly making its way through the scum on the surface of the water. The contrast between the opulent beauty of the bird and its surroundings could not have been greater. Its striking plumage of glossy purple, burnt orange, white and cream, black and iridescent green and blue seemed to deserve a backdrop of crystal clear water that reflected the sky and clouds above rather than this malignant mess. But it sailed on, seemingly happy in its chosen place, managing, despite the circumstances, to remain scrupulously clean. Until, that is, we got too close and it took to the air, perhaps heading for pastures (or waters) new.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900