- fantastic - rosping-Giovanni Spatafora
- Fantastic reflection ! - Dose Raffaele
- What a beautiful bird! - animula-somnia
- Sobhan Allah so amazing - GoLdEnKnIgHt2008
- The feathers look amazing - www.dorrellmerritt.co.uk
- It looks wooden... - a.black51
- Beauty! - Gregussen
It's a Laugh...
Mandarin Duck - Richmond Park - London, England - Saturday 9th February 2008.
As seen on the BBC One show ~ "The One Show"...on April 16th 2009....It may not have won the competition but Christine Blakely thinks it's beautiful...that's good enough for me..lol..:)
The Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata), or just Mandarin, is a medium-sized perching duck, closely related to the North American Wood Duck. It is 41-49 cm long with a 65-75 cm wingspan.
The adult male is a striking and unmistakable bird. It has a red bill, large white crescent above the eye and reddish face and "whiskers". The breast is purple with two vertical white bars, and the flanks ruddy, with two orange "sails" at the back. The female is similar to female Wood Duck, with a white eye-ring and stripe running back from the eye, but is paler below, has a small white flank stripe, and a pale tip to its bill.
Mandarin Ducks, which are referred to by the Chinese as Yuan-yang (simplified Chinese: 鸳鸯; traditional Chinese: 鴛鴦; pinyin: yuān yāng), are frequently featured in Oriental art and are regarded as a symbol of conjugal affection and fidelity.
A Chinese proverb for loving couples uses the Mandarin Duck as a metaphor: "Two mandarin ducks playing in water" (simplified Chinese: 鸳鸯戏水; traditional Chinese: 鴛鴦戲水; pinyin: yuān yāng xì shǔi). The Mandarin Duck symbol is also used in Chinese weddings, because in traditional Chinese lore they symbolize wedded bliss and fidelity.
The species was once widespread in eastern Asia, but large-scale exports and the destruction of its forest habitat has reduced populations in eastern Russia and in China to well below 1,000 pairs, although Japan may have around 5,000 pairs.[citation needed]
Specimens frequently escape from collections, and in the 20th century a feral population numbering about 1,000 pairs was established in Great Britain. Although this is of great conservational significance, the birds are not protected in the UK since the species is not native there.
In the wild, Mandarin Ducks breed in densely wooded areas near shallow lakes, marshes or ponds. They nest in cavities in trees close to water. Shortly after the ducklings hatch, their mother flies to the ground and coaxes the ducklings to leap from the nest. The Asian populations are migratory, overwintering in lowland eastern China and southern Japan.
Mandarins feed by dabbling or walking on land. They mainly eat plants and seeds, especially beechmast. They feed mainly near dawn or dusk, perching in trees or on the ground during the day.
Mandarins may form small flocks in winter, but rarely associate with other ducks.
Comments and faves
nature photographer., Philipp Klinger Photography, z______z, Marinka 2008, and 324 other people added this photo to their favorites.
EL YASIYAH™ (64 months ago | reply)
really great
lovely colors =)
nature photographer. (64 months ago | reply)
WoooooooooWWWW..very great work friend...
duncanjohnston [deleted] (64 months ago | reply)
this is simply stunning
Swami Stream (64 months ago | reply)
stunning colors great capture my friend
Philipp Klinger Photography (64 months ago | reply)
Beautiful! Especially the slightly distorted reflections look awesome
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Marinka 2008 (64 months ago | reply)
I love this Photo
Please add this wonderful image to
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z______z (64 months ago | reply)
A super shot, and a great duck too.
You are my winner!
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OK, Kev, I'm buying you a duck hat...forget about a Donald Duck hat, you're getting a Mandarin lookalike duck hat.
ubysideHi,i'mstillalive;) (64 months ago | reply)
Wow wow wow and wow, what a picture, perfect!!!!!
Ken Heffernan [deleted] (64 months ago | reply)
Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Nature - unlimited, and we'd love to have your photo added to the group.
CarloAlessio77 (64 months ago | reply)
Wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Paganelli [deleted] (64 months ago | reply)
wonderful!!!
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Your fantastic color picture is my winner!
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Juan Rubiano (64 months ago | reply)
Fantastic !.
nilliske (64 months ago | reply)
Awesome reflection. Clear colours.
Nora Carol (64 months ago | reply)
wonderful capture..its very clear and sharp :-)
The Scalpel Master Photography (64 months ago | reply)
Congratulations! Your photo has been nominated as "Superb Masterpiece"
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swiftymags (64 months ago | reply)
Lovely colours
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Ana_Mia [deleted] (64 months ago | reply)
very beautiful photo !
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Elusive Queen (See you in the Summer) [deleted] (64 months ago | reply)
Spectacular!!!!!!!!! I really am dumbstruck xxx
AnyMotion (64 months ago | reply)
Fantastic refelctions and a great, brilliant capture !!
You are invited to add this exceptional image to
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Anne Strickland (64 months ago | reply)
Absolutely wonderful ! The reflections are fabulous~
I have faved and tagged your picture with BRAVO and this serves as an invitation to The Best: BRAVO -- pending administrative review.
ubysideHi,i'mstillalive;) (64 months ago | reply)
You are invited to add this image to www.flickr.com/groups/bigfave
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zaidimuhamad (64 months ago | reply)
This is a Great Shot!
This photo has been selected for The Great Shooter Award BRONZE MEDAL!!!
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Monkey Balls (64 months ago | reply)
unreal
Kirsten Storm (64 months ago | reply)
What a pretty duck! I like the reflections, too!
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libbylou1300 (64 months ago | reply)
Brilliant photo!!!
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this is a multi mega shot, please post your shot to the best of the bests:
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SallyT. (64 months ago | reply)
wonderful detail and reflection.
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kevin dooley (64 months ago | reply)
w00t!
deepinswim (64 months ago | reply)
what a beautiful reflection and shot! love this one!
ABMJG (64 months ago | reply)
Great job!!
keep em coming
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*a_a* ( in & out ) (64 months ago | reply)
this is high quality......super details......wonderful colours.....great reflections.....beautiful light.....perfect.....
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TakenByTina (64 months ago | reply)
Wow, look at the colours on this guy.
Really amazing job. The detail is superb!!
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smrafiq (64 months ago | reply)
Great capture
Arkansas ShutterBug (64 months ago | reply)
My stars!! This is an instant fav. I love the colors, the reflection, and the movement.
rrogersphotos (64 months ago | reply)
Great Capture, colors are just wonderful, reflection is beautiful, details are super, it all makes a pretty duck. Had to FAVE it
Jοey (64 months ago | reply)
Superb shot.. love the reflection, and the way the water looks like liquid glass.. awesome!
Definitely a winner!!!
You deserve another one.
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Didier-Lg (64 months ago | reply)
Couleurs extraordinaires et superbe reflet... Bravo !
Definitely a winner!!!
You deserve another one.
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Nevena Uzurov (64 months ago | reply)
Adorable mandarin duck...
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matchless I am (64 months ago | reply)
is she real? I mean alive??
madian778608 (64 months ago | reply)
Super shot !! fantastic clarity !!
rosping-Giovanni Spatafora (64 months ago | reply)
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wonderful capture
pe_ha45 (64 months ago | reply)
Wonderful shot, fantastic reflection.
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Schlacks (64 months ago | reply)
a very nice shot, with super reflekt.
WAPPY AL (64 months ago | reply)
A beautiful reflection
*Michelle*(meechelle) (64 months ago | reply)
Gorgeous shot Keven! The colors are just fabulous!! Love the reflection too!
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♥ honeybee photography ♥ [deleted] (64 months ago | reply)
wow amazing color and comp!!
hope your weekend is going well too my friend :)
queenswolf (64 months ago | reply)
absolutley beautiful shot
Gordon _Iowa (64 months ago | reply)
WOW.......
nushuz (64 months ago | reply)
This is stunning! The colors are amazing! Well done, as always! Hope your week end is awesome!
Wenspics (64 months ago | reply)
Wow! Amazing colors and contrast!! very nice!