CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Later afternoon at the end of a busy photography day. The sunset peaks through the trees and lights up the mallard wings in mid flap. sku 10009

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Ultra green and the shininess of it. Blue skies mean deep colours recorded. The blue skies give a rich warmth to the colours of the mallard. sku 10010

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE The leaf was a bone of contention - as I took the photo - but - Japan has a phrase called wabi sabi - which means to "embrace perfection as it is part of REAL LIFE". So I embrace this leaf. sku 10011

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE It seems that wing flap photos that I managed to get were nearly always in profile. This photo - I am most proud of in the wing flap category as its so 3D. sku 10012

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE When birds stare down into the water - to me - it looks like they are deep in thought. sku 10013

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Its that time of year again when the trees change colour and fall off the trees. Water shapes and leaf colours really tell a story. sku 10014

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Close up and low level photography brings the viewer directly in line with the mallard and his morning sip. sku 10015

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Autumn colours of deep green and caramel browns which mimic the colours of this mallard. sku 10016

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Mister Mallard with his forthright walk as he wishes the ice would melt and he could on with his day. sku 10017

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE A sitting duck is normally not a "interesting subject". But - when sunlight compliments him and his face so much - I couldn't resist. sku 10018

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE With the autumn colours of the trees reflecting in the pond the mandarin wandered into the sky blue section of water. sku 20019

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Just when I had made the statement in "mandarin silver lake" that its best to photograph these colourful birds in a monochrome background - I find myself being hypocritical as I do LOVE this most glorious of colourful photos. Daisies are monochrome and are very dif[...]

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Rainy days are usually for putting cameras away for another day. This day was no exception as I saw the clouds gather I began to put my camera away. As I did so - the mandarin flew in and stood in the water and stared with an "annoyed expression" and contemplati[...]

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Having photographed a mandarin in this exact same spot in December 2015 - I went back six months later as if by premonition. The premonition came true as another male mandarin flew in and stood directly opposite where the other one had stood six months before. This[...]

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Taken six months apart in the same place The wintry side was a rainy day in December of 2015 and the summery side was a sunny day in July 2016.

CLICK / TAP PHOTO TO ENLARGE Mandarins are incredibly multi-coloured - from all the colours of the rainbow. This mandarin reminded of the phrase "awash with colour" and hence the photo title.