11 June 2024

Cape Teal Duck in Flight with Canon EOS 70D

Canon EOS Birds in Flight Photography : Diep River / Woodbridge Island

Cape Teal Duck in Flight Canon EOS 70D Copyright Vernon Chalmers
Cape Teal Duck in Flight on a Sunny Morning

I love the challenge of photographing with older technology. 

If the light is right and the glass is good anything is still possible…

Canon Bird Photography Equipment
  • Canon EOS 70D APS-C Camera
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens
  • 7 FPS Continuous Mode (AI Servo) 
  • Sandisk Extreme 32GB 90MB/s SD Card

Camera Focus / Exposure Settings
  • Autofocus /  Zone AF
  • Manual (M) Mode
  • Aperture: f/5.6
  • Auto-ISO (400)
  • Shutter Speed: 1/3200s
  • IS Off
  • Handheld

Release Dates of Canon Equipment used
  • Canon EOS 70D - July 2013
  • Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens - November 2014

Image Post-Processing
Adobe Lightroom Classic (Version 13)

More About the Cape Teal Duck

"The Cape Teal (Anas capensis), also known as the Cape Wigeon, is a dabbling duck native to sub-Saharan Africa 1. Here are some interesting facts about this beautiful bird:

  1. Appearance: The Cape Teal is a medium-sized duck, measuring about 44-46 cm in length. It has a pale grey body with a browner back and a distinctive pink bill 1.

  2. Habitat: This species is commonly found in open wetlands, including saltwater and freshwater environments 2.

  3. Behavior: Cape Teals are generally quiet, except during mating displays. The breeding male has a clear whistle, while the female has a feeble "quack" 1.

  4. Diet: They feed on aquatic plants and small creatures such as invertebrates, crustaceans, and amphibians, which they obtain by dabbling 3.

  5. Breeding: The nest is usually on the ground under vegetation and near water 3.

  6. Conservation Status: The Cape Teal is listed as "Least Concern" on the IUCN Red List, indicating that it is not currently at risk of extinction 1." (Source: Microsoft Copilot 2025)