Welcome to the fourth nature photo challenge, which encourages us to get out and about, to photograph ducks.
I’ve chosen ducks for the next nature photo challenge because they are fairly common and easy to photograph, particularly in town parks. So they are ideal for beginning nature photographers. On the other hand, they present interesting challenges to the more advanced photographer. I have long attempted (and failed) to get a good shot of a duck in flight! Nor do I have any photos of sea ducks, as it’s more difficult to get close to them.
The Mallard is thought to be the most abundant duck on Earth, and the ancestor of most strains of domesticated duck. The male Mallard is instantly recognisable with its beautiful green head and yellow bill.

The female lacks the male’s glamour, but its plumage is beautiful in her own way:

In my local park we’ve been blessed with a pair of Gadwalls recently too:


A bit of background
While you are out looking at your local ducks, you may realize that they feed in two different ways. They are either dabblers or divers.
Dabblers usually find their food, such as aquatic plants and water insects, on or just below the surface of the water. They feed by skimming the water with their bills, or sweeping their bills from side to side. Sometimes a dabbler will tip themselves up so that their head is under the water and their bottom is sticking up in the air. They then nibble on submerged plants in the shallows.
Divers swim on the surface like dabblers but also dive underwater because they like to feed on the bottom of lakes. To do so, they have large, strong webbed feet to propel themselves through the water. Photographing a diving duck is more difficult. You get it in the picture and then it suddenly disappears as if by magic. After a while it reappears, sometimes quite a distance from where it dived down.
Ducks doing stuff
Finally, ducks are great fun to watch and photograph because they are always busy doing things, like …



So, there’s your challenge for the week ahead. Either scour your archives for your duck photos, or take your camera to your nearest stretch of water.
I would love to know what species of ducks inhabit your own local park, wherever you are in the world. Do you have some photos of ducks in flight, or just doing some of their many activities? And don’t hold back on your cute duckling pictures!
Good luck, and I look forward to seeing your duck pics! Remember, just add the tag Naturephotochallenge and/or add a link to your post below.
P.S. Only ducks! No grebes, geese or swans please, as they will be the subject of later challenges.
Lovely pics Denzil. Will revisit and seek out my pics.
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Great, thanks Margaret.
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You’re welcome Denzil 🦆
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Oooh. Since we have three (three!) village ponds, I shan’t duck out of this one. But you have set the bar quite high…
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That’s either a big village or a very wet one! 😂
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It’s not a big village, but the local industry is … gravel pits.
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I’d never even heard of a Gadwall, Denzil. That’s what Google is for- to expand my limited knowledge. Great photos and information. Thanks a lot!
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Glad to be of service Jo!
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Great idea but trying to fly like a duck or goose at the moment!
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So cute!
Love the variety and colours.
Bathing scene is lovely.
I am sad, I have no duck images.
Thanks for the information about
dabblers and divers.
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Never mind Philo, the challenge is always there.
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Thank you, Denzil.
🙏🙏🙏
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Good pictures and descriptions. This quacks me up. 😉🦆🦆🦆
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Ha, that pun is a real quacker Pat!
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😉🤗👍
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A pair of mallards visited my garden pond a few days ago, but I didn’t take any pictures. I’m looking forward to some excellent photos of ducks here!
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Get your duck whistle out Audrey and call them back!
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Maybe I’ll do that!
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https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2023/03/15/ducks/
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Thanks for getting us up and rolling with your row of sitting ducks!
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A great set of duck photos, and interesting info about the two feeding methods. I’ve seen both but not registered the fact that different species use different methods – I think I assumed it was more random than that! I probably won’t join in this week as I think I’ve already shared all the ducks I have in past posts 😆
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Thanks Sarah, I’m sure diving ducks like a little dabble too at times! (Although probably not vice versa!)
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Enjoyable post! Nice photos!
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Thanks Belinda! Ducks always bring a smile to my face.
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Not many ducks around at the moment here so I had to dig into my folders for a few ducks Denzil
Love the layout, photos and the information. I am glad that people have found out about the differences in ducks.
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[…] Denzil’s Nature Photo Challenge #4: Ducks […]
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Thanks Brian, good to see that Australian ducklings are just as cute as our European ones!
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[…] Denzil Nature: Duck […]
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Lovely photos!
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Thanks for showing us some ducks from South Africa Aletta. These Mallards are really universal aren’t they!
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You’re welcome Denzil. Yes they seem to be everywhere.
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My ducks look like sissies next to your ducks!!!
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Not at all Judy, the white ones look positively glamorous!
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The duck who is the subject of most of these photos was so curious about us… She was on the other side of the lake and swam all the way across looking directly at us. Perhaps she was expecting some treats. Sadly, we didn’t have any.
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She probably heard that she could get some publicity …!
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Damn. I forgot to get her name. I believe this was in Guanajuato, but it may have been near Pátzcuaro..can’t remember.
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Hi Denzil,
Could I please have your permission to reblog this post?
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Absolutely Margaret, the ducks were just quacking that they would love some more publicity.
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😂
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Reblogged this on Smiling Coasts and commented:
Really enjoyed reading Denzil’s blog post which he has kindly allowed me to reblog.
I really do need to revisit my local country park, thank you Denzil for the prompt.
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Thank you Margaret!
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Good duck close ups! I’ll look for photos from past summers.
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[…] For Denzil Nature Photo Challenge. […]
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Thanks for introducing me to the ducks of Puget Sound! Love those Goldeneyes!
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Beautiful photos of different kind of ducks.
So, now I found a new interesting Photo Challenge!! 😁 I’ve never taken any pictures of ducks here in Cyprus but I know I have some in my archive from when I lived in Malta. I’ll see if I find them.
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Great, look forward to seeing your Maltese Ducks Anita!
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Yes,,,capturing a duck in flight…why is that so hard?
I love your first image. The green is really prominent.
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… maybe it’s linked to my slower reactions these days Dawn! 🧓
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Ugh…not that age thing again.
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I don’t think I have any ducks, but enjoyed seeing yours.
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No problem Susan, thanks for the appreciative comment.
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[…] Denzel Nature invites us to share photos of ducks this week. […]
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Thanks for taking part. Love your photos and how you have framed them.
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[…] Nature Photo Challenge: Ducks […]
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Thanks Dawn, I’m glad I’m not the only one who finds duck butts funny!
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Duck! Here’s another flock of photos 😉 https://fakeflamenco.com/2023/03/19/welcome-home-2-ducks/
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Thanks Rebecca for your lovely photos. Mallards seem to be everywhere don’t they? What a successful bird!
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Thanks, Denzil. They are the main duck in Madison.
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[…] A contribution to Ducks […]
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Thanks for participating! Love that handsome male Goldeneye!
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Sine I mentioned our village ponds to you, I thought they should feature today: https://margaret21.com/2023/03/20/ducks-are-a-dabbling/
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14 ducklings from one brood! That’s got to be a record. Thanks for showing us around your village ponds Margaret.
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You’re welcome to mooch round any time, Denzil.
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Hi Denzil, I’ve finally come up for air and am back to blogging. Here is my first entry for your new challenge 😀 😀
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Excellent photos Cee, I love that Wood Duck, it looks like a porcelain duck.
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So glad you liked my wood duck 😀
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Lovely pictures. Here are a few of mine Denzil. Most are mallards though
https://pensitivity101.wordpress.com/2023/03/20/nature-photo-challenge-4-ducks/
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You can never have enough Mallards! Thanks for sharing your photos.
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Thanks for the follow Denzil. Glad you liked my pictures.
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Lovely pictures of ducks. I lost all my bird pictures but will see what you suggest for next week.
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OK Robbie! Hope the next challenge challenges you!
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[…] Denzil-Nature-PhotoChallenge:…Ducks […]
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Thanks Woolly for your sleeping ducks picture! I don’t think I’ve come across any bird that likes to sleep more than the humble duck!
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Lovely captures!
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Very shadowy indeed Maria. Thanks for entering something a bit different, much appreciated!
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[…] week’s happenings, I wasn’t sure if I could get any duck photos for this week’s #4 Nature Photo Challenge, but surprise to me it happened just today at the very last moment. As I was leaving the desert, I […]
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Lovely photo. Looks very relaxing for the ducks, until perhaps the greenkeeper arrives?
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[…] Denzil-Nature-PhotoChallenge:…Eyes […]
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