2205_1649 Northern Shoveler
A male Northern Shoveler navigates a shallow, flooded ditch and field next to a backroad in the Frenchman River Valley. All I did was stop my car, point, and shoot. There's a lot of water around in the spring when ranchers contract for irrigation services. Water is diverted from the Frenchman River, passing through irrigation canals that allow them to flood their fields to grow grass and alfalfa for their livestock. Migratory birds including waterfowl and shorebirds take advantage of these isolated bits of wetland habitat. Somehow, though, they know not to nest here, and instead find places where the water will remain long enough to raise a brood of young ones.
When this drake swam by, the background was mostly white from reflected clouds. Within a few seconds, though, it had moved to where the water was reflecting pale blue sky, and these proved to be much better shots. Backgrounds are as important as the main subject.
Photographed near Newton Lake in the Frenchman River Valley, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2022 James R. Page - all rights reserved.
2205_1649 Northern Shoveler
A male Northern Shoveler navigates a shallow, flooded ditch and field next to a backroad in the Frenchman River Valley. All I did was stop my car, point, and shoot. There's a lot of water around in the spring when ranchers contract for irrigation services. Water is diverted from the Frenchman River, passing through irrigation canals that allow them to flood their fields to grow grass and alfalfa for their livestock. Migratory birds including waterfowl and shorebirds take advantage of these isolated bits of wetland habitat. Somehow, though, they know not to nest here, and instead find places where the water will remain long enough to raise a brood of young ones.
When this drake swam by, the background was mostly white from reflected clouds. Within a few seconds, though, it had moved to where the water was reflecting pale blue sky, and these proved to be much better shots. Backgrounds are as important as the main subject.
Photographed near Newton Lake in the Frenchman River Valley, Saskatchewan (Canada). Don't use this image on websites, blogs, or other media without explicit permission ©2022 James R. Page - all rights reserved.