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

Preening drake Mandarin

On a late April walk round Cannop Ponds in the Forest of Dean we came across a reduced number of mandarin ducks. This is probably accounted for by the fact that in April and May the ducks are nesting in cavities in trees in the area around the water. Of the remaining ducks all but one were males, and most of these were spending their time preening on branches overhanging the ponds. The biological imperatives that govern behaviour seemed to be at work here - the females doing the important stuff and the males making themselves look the best they can!

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Preening robin

Word must have got round among the local robins that I am targeting them with my camera. How else to explain them lining up, in various poses, to have their photograph taken? Having said that, I was at a bit of a loss with this robin. Was it hiding from me? Was it contorting itself in the manner of a fashion model, hoping to be chosen because of its unusual posture? Or perhaps it was simply engrossed in preening and preparing itself for the photograph it knew I would take? I got a couple of shots of the bird looking its best, but, as with the fashion models, the shot I prefer is the unconventional, preparatory image.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

The goosanders of the River Wye

The most common duck on the stretch of the River Wye with which I am familiar is probably the goosander (Mergus merganser). It may be outnumbered by mallards but the goosander is certainly more visible, diving for fish and skimming, arrow-like over the surface if the river. The male is a striking dark green and creamy white bird with a long, red bill. The female is more subtly coloured, soft grey and white with a russet head and a red bill. This trio were caught by the sun as they preened near the shade of the bank, and that highlight combined with the dark water showed them off to perfection.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900