Handsome Mallard at Silverton Reservoir
[Click image to view in a lightbox.]
I spent several hours at the Silverton Reservoir early yesterday morning. I had a hunch I’d see Ospreys and Bald Eagles there, and I wanted to photograph them diving for fish. With a thermos of coffee, I made myself comfortable and semi-inconspicuous on the bank. This Mallard, one of the handsomest I think I’ve ever seen, made himself comfortable too. This log was maybe 15 feet from me, and the duck seemed not at all bothered by my presence. That is one of my absolute favorite experiences in birdwatching: when the birds come to trust that I am a non-threat.
The raptors did come, by the way. First came two Ospreys, but they bolted when the eagle showed up. (Respect.) The Ospreys returned later. One caught a fish and I watched as the Bald Eagle strafed it in midair trying to steal the fish clutched in the Osprey’s talons. The Bald Eagle retreated only when some crows started harassing it; the Osprey left with breakfast. Still later, another Osprey came—possibly a juvenile, it looked young—and tried unsuccessfully to fish too. I got plenty of photographs of all this...but, alas, none worth sharing. But how can I feel disappointed? I had a lakeside seat for nature’s thrilling drama.
I came away with other photographs I liked, though they are tame by comparison. Like this close-up of the Mallard. (Just look at those colors!)
I included a picture below of what it looked like in my office as I edited these photos.
Location: Silverton, Oregon
Date: April 25, 2021
Exposure: 1/200 second, f/6.3, ISO 2500
Focal Length: 600 mm
Gear:
Camera: Nikon D750
Lens: Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary
