Circle of shovels

Last week I set out to take some headshots of birds at the Lough. I discovered that its that time of year when some of the shovelers have joined the armies of begging birds around the edges of the water. Usually they keep their distance from people in the area.

I like watching shovelers as they seem to have more obvious behaviourisms then other ducks around at the moment. Several pairs where isolated from the group and where feeding in a pinwheel formation circling each other with their heads down. Forums and what not seem to suggest that this helps churn up the water so more food is available.