This dabbling duck breeds across northern areas of Eurasia south to about Poland and Mongolia, and in Canada Alaska and the midwest USA. Mainly migrating south of its breeding range during the northern hemisphere winter period Dec-March, reaching the equator.
Among the most handsome of all ducks, the northern pintail (Anas acuta) is recognised by its slender build, long, elegant neck and elongated, spiky central tail feathers, a feature that gives rise to its common name. A graceful waterbird with long, narrow wings, during the breeding season the male northern pintail has a chocolate-brown head, white underparts and a white neck, with a thin, white line extending up the back of the neck, and a long, black tail bordered by yellowish-tan patches. The upper back and sides are grey, the lower back feathers are black with pale edges, and the rear of the wing is bronze-greenish, with a black band and white rear edge. The eyes are dark brown and the legs are grey. At other times of the year, the male northern pintail has duller, brownish plumage, with fine, dark streaks on the neck and broad, dark barring on the upperparts. The female northern pintail lacks the colourful plumage of the male, with largely brown upperparts, a tan crown and face, whitish underparts, and a bronzy-greenish band on the rear of the wing, as well as bluish-grey legs and a dull black bill.
Walking or running with a slight waddle, the northern pintail is actually quite agile on land, but is most graceful and acrobatic in flight. It is able to achieve great speeds while flying, earning the species the nickname ‘greyhound of the air’ . The northern pintail is a rather quiet bird, but the male may emit a mellow, whistled “kwee” or “kwee-hee”, while the female produces a hoarse, muffled “quack”.
After seeing WaiMun's posting it was my turn to try my luck and with some guidance from my Ipoh sifu and MNS Perak folks the encounter begins.........
I reached the site a bit late in the morning at almost 9.00am from KL. There was nobody there in the weekday. From the car I scan the pond for more than 10 mins but could not spot the duck in the pond. I could only see little grebe and some whistling ducks. I was worried it may had left the scene; then there were some movement at the opposite bank and walla my lifer came into view and I was exuberating excited. The duck was preening itself for quite sometime as I quickly took some record shoots just in case. It has yet to go into the pond and I quickly mounted my gears and in I go to set up position at the right side of the pond. The MO is to stride crouching the ground and using the embankment to hide from its view. Almost halfway up the pondside I cannot go further as the duck was in view of me. I stop there in sitting position so that I am less intimidating and waited. Less than a minute the duck started out into the pond as it notice my position. It did not come close but swim keeping a constant distance. Then a buffalo cowherd on its motobike passes by the pond and it waddle into the middle of the pond and nearer toward me. What luck as I shoot away. Even then it was still far out. All pictures here heavily crop as I was shooting at about 200 ft out to the pond. I left about half an hour of shooting it as not to harass it so much. The end of my encounter............
Digiscoping at 1200-1600mm (3 x my 400mm set up) will yield beautiful feather features. Otherwise to shoot full frame detail photos you need to use a hide and set up as early as 6.30-7.00 am when its still dark and wait. I really cannot afford the time. I totally forgot to bring my broken Nikon P900 but usable if not I would have better pictures.
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