R.S.P.B. Burton Mere Wetlands, Puddington Lane, Burton CH64 5SF

Mallard hen taking a vigorous bath and preening, Stow Lake.

This green heron (Butorides virescens) was observed while slowly and meticulously preening its wings at North Pond in Lincoln Park, Chicago. The heron appeared to be oblivious to passers-by and maintained its slow and deliberate preening routine for at least 15-20 minutes or longer.

Butterfly World, Coconut Creek, FL

To view it large on white click here.

Male Dunnock preening in one of my apple trees this morning. Not a clear view but he does show better towards the end

The 2021 winter solstice in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, was a mostly cloudy day but late in the afternoon the sun came out briefly. Luckily for me, it illuminated this male Northern Flicker preening in the productive birding spot of Carburn Park. This individual is an intergrade between the red-shafted and yellow-shafted forms, with red on both the malars (cheek stripes) and the nape.

Great Egret

.the light was against , I have done what I can.

Kay likes it.

Hand held, exif below.

Camera Canon EOS 7D

Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1250)

Aperture f/6.3

Focal Length 500 mm

ISO Speed 1000

Exposure Bias -1 EV

A Blackbird having a good preen and clean.

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www.floridastateparks.org/standrews

Nikon D40x

A great egret preens at St Andrews State Park, Florida

Like taking a bow, an American Robin begins to preen its flight feathers.

I didn't realize vultures did this!

Preening .

One from a while back when the Pelicans were still sporting their mating humps.

Red-tailed hawk closing its eyes while preening its feather

One of the pictures I took at Warabrook Wetlands while trialling the Tamron 150-600 lens with Archie McCafferty's camera. Thanks Archie!! I am still determined to buy the 7D Mk II :)

Northern Harrier preening its tail, Ridgefield NWR, WA. I remember these as a kid, in Tennessee on outings with my dad. We called them "Marsh Hawks" back then.

Willet Preening

Satellite Beach, FL

January 2017

www.billmcbridephotography.com

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge

Nestled within the dense foliage, this Great Egret leisurely preened its feathers as it rested in its nest.

Location: Wakodahatchee Wetlands, Delray Beach, Florida, United States of America

I guess a preening eagle doesn't appreciate being spied upon with a long lens.

A glare that goes right thru, the original 10,000 yard stare!

a Harris's Hawk preening itself in Tucson

The caracaras at Kissimmee Prairie were good to me in December.

Male Red-winged Blackbird Preening. A.E. Wilson Park, Regina, Saskatchewan Canada. 30 July 2017.

A Dunlin preening it's feathers after washing

photographed at St Augustine Alligator Farm, Florida last March

A Mallard adjusts the plumage.

FI00582

Mandarin Duck

Preening hen standing on a mat of cattails in the wetlands

This is a cropped photo of a Tundra Swan preening. The swans kept their distance that day. I haven't been back to Ridgefield for awhile and I imagine all the swans have gone north.

I had another couple of hours with the grebes yesterday. I like the preening pose here and decided to process it in high-key mono which I think works well.

Red-tailed Hawk cleaning its feathers

Kingfishers preen to maintain their feathers, which helps them fly well and stay healthy. Preening involves a number of behaviors, including:

Running the bill: Birds run their bill from the base to the tip of each feather

Shaking the head: Kingfishers may shake their head while preening

Turning around: Kingfishers may turn around on a branch while preening

Scratching the head: Kingfishers may scratch their head with their foot while preening.

{Taken in a fully natural environment}

Chincoteague NWR, VA 2010

++Better Larger++

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Despite not being able to use all these shots for the competition I enjoyed watching all the different preening techniques.