Northern Shoveler

The Northern Shoveler has always had that effect on me — that massive spatula-shaped bill makes them instantly recognisable. They look alert and intelligent, but also oddly gentle. I had only photographed one briefly a few years ago — just a quick encounter. And then this winter, they turned up almost on our doorstep.

Nigel found a group of shovelers on our usual lake and we managed to position ourselves in a spot where we could photograph them without disturbing them.

They don’t tolerate people too close. If they feel watched or approached, they’ll swim away or simply take off. So having that comfortable distance made all the difference. We spent many days photographing them in good winter light. And later, things improved even more. The lake froze. The ice reduced the open water, which brought the shovelers closer. A few times they stepped out onto the ice, and I was lucky enough to photograph them preening — always a lovely behaviour to capture.

After about a month, they moved on. I was genuinely sad to see them go, but I’ll be hoping they return next year.