A Mallard duck story

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Viathelens

Viathelens

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There is a slough right off the marina where I keep my 18' runabout, in Stockton, CA. The slough is called 14-mile slough (and, yes, I do believe it is 14 miles long!). I was at the marina looking for birds to photograph and I saw this little guy pictured below in the water so I started shooting him. I did not realize that he had been injured at some point until I looked at the images at home. He was such a happy little guy, playing in the water, diving and rocking around in the water and then he jumped up on a rock and gave quite a show as he moved around. I felt bad for him when I saw the damage to his wing, it was extreme, but he just seemed so happy and contented that day. So, I tried, in the resultant images to make him well and whole again to match his happy attitude about life! The last image shows the damage to his wing.
CCassinetto14MileSloughDuck1.jpg
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CCassinetto14MileSloughDuck2.jpg
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CCassinetto14MileSloughDuck3.jpg
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CCassinetto14MileSloughDuck4.jpg
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Poor fella. They are so common, they are almost overlooked in my area. But, I happen to think in the right light they are one of the most beautiful waterfowl around. I have a picture that is very similar to the first in your series I have not had a chance to clean up and post. D500 captured the moment right as the surface tension broke and only a small spot around the eye is exposed. The rest of his head is still enshrouded in beautiful, shiny water.
 
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These ducks are common everywhere and normally I ignore them, unless something interesting, as in this case, is happening. Their colors are beautiful when looked at closely. This was such a happy duck, he really seemed to be enjoying his life that day.
 
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Fortunately for this duck, he's a water bird, so if he can't fly it isn't the end of the world for him. I spent many years rehabbing injured raptors, and I find that birds look at these things differently than we do. For them, it is what it is. If possible, they go on with their lives.
 
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