The ducklings at out local swamp are rapidly loosing their cute baby look. With feathers replacing down and their beaks taking more and more the form of adult Mallard ducks, the ducklings nonetheless haven't fully grown their flight feathers.

This little bundle shakes off excess water after following mom's lead in a session of dabbling.

Canon 40D with 100-400L lens, @ 1/800, f5.6, ISO 400, - 1/3 compensation at 400mm focal distance.

I often underexpose a bit to prevent burnout of white under-feathers in a relatively dark image when ducks or ducklings spread their wings.

Cheers,

Mike