Mandarin Duck

[Ryewolf]

From WWT Martin Mere today. I do like photographing these colourful little ducks...

[kev7d]

Wow Ryewolf. Lovely stuff.

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Kev. If you have a WWT reserve close by it's well worth a visit.

[kev7d]

I don’t unfortunately.  Or at least not one I am aware of.  

[Ryewolf]

The two closest in the North of England are WWT Washington (up near Newcastle) and WWT Martin Mere near Southport.

[kev7d]

Washington. I go up that way quite regularly so may just have to take a look.  Thanks Rye.  

[Ryewolf]

I've not been to the Washington one, but looking on their website I'm guessing they all run pretty much similar; there's the wildfowl gardens were you can get really close to the ducks and geese from around the world - and indeed feed them by hand and the wetland areas and hides were you can watch the wild bird visitors. It's well worth bringing some seeds to feed the birds up close, especially the Hawaiian Nene Geese - it was to save these geese from extinction that the WWT was founded.

[Rick448]

Supecolors in that one. I have a shot of some sort of pheasant ( i think) I'll post it up. 

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Rick. I did see a couple of pheasants today, normally I would have tempted them out with some seeds to get some shots, but forgot to bring seeds - though you can buy them there...

[vanguard]

beautiful bird and well taken

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Vanguard.

[ChrisD]

Spot on, can't decide which I like most, maybe the second one. Well done.

[johntwo]

The colours and the water make these but the low viewpoint and DOF are also well chosen.  A couple very nice shots.  I keep meaning to go to Martin Meer.

[Ryewolf]

Thanks Chris and John. I'm a member at WWT, so I go quite often and it's only 50minutes drive or around 30 miles.