Avian IOTW 12/31/2009 Rich Steel

Congratulations Rich Steel
Velvet Scoter

Hi

A couple of days back there were reports of a young velvet scoter that had taken up temporary residence on a small lake about 50 miles north. Having never seen one before and deciding it was time to end the Christmas hibernation I ventured forth. Strangely I have visited the same pond before a couple of years back when a Slavonian Grebe turned up. The Scoter was easily found by the group of tripods that had sprung up at one end of the lake. The bird was diving constantly for freshwater Swan mussels, which are much large than marine mussels and swallowing them whole. During the time I was there it must have eaten about 15 which makes you wonder how it was still floating!

This was the lowest angle I could get on the bird as the banks are steep and I didn't really fancy plunging into a half frozen lake for a brown duck! The bird is in the process of lining up another mussel to swallow.

aken with 7D with 500mm lens and 1.4TC at ISO 400 F5.6 at 1/640s.

Happy Bird Filled 2010 to you all!

Cheers

Rich

HI Rich, Congratulations on Avian Image of the Week. Very cool capture with the mussel in mid air. Thanks for sharing.

Well done Rich,

Excellent capture. See you soon.

Austin

Fantastic image! Congratulations!:)

Congratulations, Rich! Well deserved.

Congratulations, Well deserved.

Congratulations, Rich. Nice moment.

Great capture! Congratulations.

Great detail & colour, with perfect timing!:)

Steve

great shot! congrats Rich!

Congratulations Rich...:cool:

Congratulations! Great capture.

Congrats, Rich! Love the action!

Many thanks for your kind words and also many thanks to the Scoter for a very enjoyable few hours.

That's great Rich, a really fun image, congrats!

Beautiful image, Rich! Congratulations!

Fantastic image. Congratulations Rich!

Cheers,
Sabyasachi