Posted by MaryB (Staffordshire, United Kingdom) on 20 February 2008 in Animal & Insect and Portfolio.
We like to help the birds in winter by feeding them, especially, as in this case, the water has been frozen solid for days. (Temps have got down as low -10c here the last few nights and don't we know it our central heating boiler has packed up!!!!). The weather also keeps a lot of people away too as you have to make the effort to get to this lake as it's off the beaten track across fields. This little Coot was really happy to see us, so were his friends :) 19th February '08
Any tips or constructive criticism are welcome :)
I really appreciate all your comments, thank you so much. I'm only sorry I've not got time to respond. I do read all the comments and will try to answer any questions you have about my posts :)
Awww adorable! :) Great capture.
20 Feb 2008 12:21am
Really comical. What a super image.
20 Feb 2008 12:39am
very cool
20 Feb 2008 12:50am
I say first that I commend you for making the time and effort to care for the wildlife that must survive such drastic temperatures. Second, this is an excellent image with only one without distraction. Very nice.
20 Feb 2008 1:00am
Very Very Nice shot . i like to help birds in these cold days like you.
20 Feb 2008 1:59am
Interesting image, well captured.
20 Feb 2008 2:24am
...i like a lot this your shot.
20 Feb 2008 4:12am
Nice minimalist shot, very cool
20 Feb 2008 4:36am
Really great shot! Thank you for assisting these birds!
20 Feb 2008 5:49am
In Japan we'd call it a "takeout"...you know, going to a shop where you can buy cooked food, take it out...that is , home...and eat it!This would make a great poster, Mary....."LET'S HELP THE BIRDS"....A rare capture, indeed!
20 Feb 2008 6:53am
I love this MaryB it's so precious, you're a good soul :)
20 Feb 2008 7:18am
Lovely shot and lovely your actions. Keep all up!
20 Feb 2008 7:30am
awww! :) i love it! well done-- i think you captured that moment in time so very well
20 Feb 2008 7:36am
It is a cool shot! But, I'm not sure that feeding them is really the best thing for the overall health of birds in general. The ideal condition would be for humans to get completely out of their way. Never-the-less, it's a great shot and I shouldn't be so judgmental because I don't know a lot about the species.
20 Feb 2008 7:41am
@Craiger: Thank you Craig :) and the question you have raised is a valid and important one. To feed or not to feed. After much deliberation and research into wether we should feed wild waterfowl, we sought advice from a wildlife expert, who has 30+ years experience in the job, in his opinion it was safe to do so. We took his advice and never feed white bread only organic and only in the winter when the lake/pond is frozen over. We feed the wild garden birds through out the year, changing the food to suit their requirements for each particular season. We got advice from the RSPB for feeding garden birds :)
Ah, another moorhen... I love them and your take is fab!
20 Feb 2008 7:51am
This made me smile!! Love that you have the white background so the focus was on the bird. Really adorable! Great timing. How you managed to get the shot when it was still in the bird's mouth.
20 Feb 2008 8:14am
Funny capture. I love the shadow...it adds depth to the otherwise flat ice and snow. Great job.
20 Feb 2008 8:34am
Nice shot, looks like the ice is thick enough for skating!
20 Feb 2008 8:43am
A very nice capture Mary. This is one happy old coot...
20 Feb 2008 8:49am
There's definitely a lot of humor in that shot. I think mostly because the slice of bread is relatively whole, that it's just the two of them in the shot and that the slice's size is comparable to the bird's size. Great capture!
20 Feb 2008 10:44am
Sorry for the double post; but, just had to add that I am so relieved to hear your actions in feeding the birds were an educated act! Well done MaryB!!!
20 Feb 2008 10:58am
Great shot - the composition is excellent and the shadow on the ice perfect. All of that white ice with the black bird makes for an interesting shot. Well done!
20 Feb 2008 10:59am
wow! perfect one! i agree with steven!
20 Feb 2008 11:50am
Oh so sweet :) Seeing this shot, it makes me thing some more birds were following to the left of the picture :-P
20 Feb 2008 2:14pm
I'm glad to see tha you're still here with your wonderful photos.. this one is very funny! Thank you for your message in my p-blog! Soon, you'll see an ultrasonography at 10 weeks and 5 days... ;)
20 Feb 2008 3:26pm
Oh wow! This is sooo sweet! Great moment, well captured!
20 Feb 2008 3:31pm
Good shot, brrr, it has been a cold these last few nights especially, I hope your heating is working again. Amazing frozen scene Mary.....but keep your hands warm when out with your camera, you don't want frostbite.
20 Feb 2008 3:33pm
@Richard_Irwin: Cheers Richard, the heating guy is coming today (21st) so I hope it will be soon sorted out. It has been so cold, thankfully we have hand warmers that we take out with us, they stop our hands feezing up ;)
Beyond delightful, Mary!! You just have a way with your images... This is just FABulous! The framing, the angle, the bit of reflection... Perfect!
20 Feb 2008 3:48pm
Mary, I am speechless... This is EXCELLENT!
20 Feb 2008 4:16pm
!!! that's the best picture of the day for me:)
20 Feb 2008 5:46pm
@gandz: Thank you gandz, for such a wonderful compliment :)
Oh! Mary! That slice of bread looks way too big for him! Its a fabulous comical shot and so precious! :-)
20 Feb 2008 6:18pm
@Anne: Hi Anne thank you :) I'm not sure if you posting atm, but reading some of your comment it appears tha you are but I seem to have lost you!
first of all,Mary,i honestly think you are really very kind to feed the birds,and from your visitors' comments and yours,how you have gone the extra mile to find out the kind of food to feed the birds and stuff...its something not many people will take the effort to do and i really salute you for that:)
i thought the bird was standing on water until i read that it was frozen.Truly an amazing shot,the world will be a more bearable place if there were more people like you:)
20 Feb 2008 7:57pm
I had to smile at this one. Great take Mary. Thanks for caring.
20 Feb 2008 8:14pm
incredible!!!! great shot MaryB!! make me smile!!!
21 Feb 2008 9:03pm
Great shot and with a great story too! i didn't realise it was that cold down south.
Dan
25 Feb 2008 9:34pm
great photo
26 Feb 2008 9:22am
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