Mindfulness

I was tired this morning after our trip to the Frozen North yesterday, and frittered away the first half of the day on essentially pointless things. Mid way through the afternoon though I felt a sudden need to be out and about, so I drove into Stratford and spent an hour walking along the river and watching the birds.

The light on the water was lovely, and I was completely present and engaged in trying to capture it - I didn't check my phone once, or even think about politics here or in the USA. There weren't many people about, but once or twice I became aware that I was being watched, and it occurred to me that my activity probably looked a little strange: I spent a lot of time just standing (or sometimes kneeling) on the quay, looking at the river and waiting for one of the birds on it to swim into some nicely lit water, so that I could use them as a focal point. It's birding, Jim, but not as we know it...

This - of course - is a tufted duck, and despite the fact that I promised myself to blip something else today I can't honestly say that I'm sorry. I don't think I've photographed this young female before, and I liked her alert attitude - plus, she was the only one of the five tufties who were present today who obliged me by swimming through this patch of reflection. (Only five tufties! Sad face emoticon.) Should you be bored with tufted ducks though, I've put a mallard in the extras. I don't especially like male mallards, but I couldn't miss the chance to photograph this one as he passed through a shaft of strong sunlight, showing off the iridescent green of his breeding plumage.

I've spent the evening viewing all the entries for the Tiny Tuesday challenge, and enjoying myself mightily. Thank you to everyone who contributed, for making the job of shortlisting so difficult, and for giving me a number of ideas for future photos of my own (which we will call homage, if you please, rather than plagiarism).

In no particular order, my hearts this week are awarded to:

yuba
suejay50
evolybab
Freyjad
osuzanna

And - again, in no particular order - my honourable mentions go to:
Hotmandarins
KangaZu
Ingeborg
Andrew44
Crispin25
rmeinz

I'd also like to give a special mention to Didyounotice, who entered the challenge with their very first blip - which must surely be some kind of record?!

I hope that you'll all play again next Tuesday, when the tag will be #tt285.