A drake Mallard flies over the waters to join a flock near the lake shoreline.

It was a dreary overcast winter day when a camera club friend and I got to the lake. Making due with the limited light conditions, we set off to take some pics. I was watching some ducks when a pair decided to take flight. Just at that time the low afternoon sun also broke through the dark rain clouds behind me and shined on the ducks in flight, setting them off nicely against the water.

View much larger on a dark background here

“PHOTO INFORMATION”

Taken on Mon Jan 2/2012 at 2:06 pm on south east Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada.
Camera, Canon 7D
Lens, Canon EF 100-400mm L IS USM lens.
Tripod, Manfrotto, including 498RC2 ballhead

No cropping,dark edge vignette added and slight sharpening.

“ABOUT MALLARDS”

Mallards are one of the most abundant and wide ranging duck on earth. They are a familiar sight to many who live in the Northern Hemisphere. Mallards can be found in almost any body of freshwater across Europe, Asia and North America. They prefer calm, shallow sanctuaries, but can be found in saltwater and brackish water. They are commonly found in wetlands.