Mallard

A fortnight or so ago I blipped a mallard drake undergoing, as it turned out, the transition into eclipse plumage. I was unaware of this phenomenon until the Spotlight Kid, who is far more of a naturalist than I, explained it.

I suspect, therefore, that this a more advanced example of the same process. This mallard lives on a duck pond adjacent to Abberd Brook, shortly before it flows into the River Marden where the other mallard was. The matter is confused by some of the other mallards on the pond, which are of distinctly non-standard plumage and some being almost apricot in colour. There are a couple of normal mallard ducks there, too.

Lens: Sigma 70-300mm

Day #461
Blip #459
Consecutive Blip #456

Alternatives:
Duck #1
Duck #2

1 year ago: Sandridge (Textures&colours series)