Photographing a most difficult duck. Garganey are usually a shy species this one was tame. 

Managed to still get some great video and images. Thanks for sharing.

I approve of ducks.

Interesting to hear your comments Mike on the mk2 i have just got the mk1 after been a lumix user for the last 5years and the focus system is by far the best i have used its not perfect but its not far off and hopefully the firmware update coming in autumn will go a long way to achieving this but to be honest its a very capable camera.

congrats on capturing the Garganey Mike. The observations on their behaviour were fascinating

I love your records of the trials and tribulations of being a bird photographer! Another grerat video.

NIce video Mike. A you say at the end og the video, there is very little , if any difference, betwen the focusing on the OM1 and the OM1MkII.

I had to smile Mike, when you mentioned the rain because just as I'm watching your video it's throwing it down here in Nottinghamshire! 😂😂

A lovely bird thanks for posting Mike.

Thanks, Mike. As always you had top quality videos and stills. Plus, you introduced me to a duck with which I was quite unfamiliar.

Great to see a Garganey in close proximity Mike, thanks for making this 👍

Very interesting video Mike particularly as I live close to the park in your piece although didn't hear about the Garganey at the time. Your headline and opening comments about birds, or any animal for that matter, that are difficult to photograph raises some questions and I would like to know your views. Wildlife photography for me is above all about honesty. I could go to Slimbridge tomorrow and guarantee to photograph a male and female Garganey and with some care the photograph would look for all intents and purposes like that of a wild bird in natural circumstances. So, not so "difficult". What is key is that I don't pass this off as a wild bird [ competition entries e.g. ] when using the photos, which is where the integrity comes in. It"s still a Garganey and I am still happy with the quality of my photos. In pure photographic terms - composition, lighting etc it matters not to me if the bird is wild or not. Whilst I enjoy enormously sitting in a hide waiting for the right time right place anticipation of a cracking shot of a truly wild bird the percentages these days - diminishing density of species and lighting [weather] etc are not good, so some certainty is welcome. Of course there is a lot more to it. I know views on this subject are generally very polarised and to highlight this conflict I have an example of some bigotry. A couple of years ago a Bar Headed Goose turned up at your location here. I phoned a friend - a birder first, photographer second with a view to some photography of the bird. He dismissed it completely in a nano second on the basis that its location mean't that there was no possibility that it was a wild bird, and said he wasn't interested. This took me back somewhat at the time as again it was a relatively rare visitor [ certainly to the centre of Birmingham ] of indeterminate origin and an ideal opportunity on our doorstep to see and photograph an unusual bird. The metadata of the photos do not reveal whether it was a captive escapee or the fact that it was in a city centre park and I do not know to this day if it was a lost wild bird or not. I would be interested to know your views.

Great stuff Mike, thanks for sharing this with us! Good job you're a patient fella! lol.

Great video and a super title Mike.

Great work Mike good to find a tame one 👍

Happy that you got this one. Good planning to wait for the water shot by the grass. Hope that will help me one day soon.

Superb work Sir.

Still a bird that puts a spring in the step of even the harden birdwatcher. Lovely bird Mike just a pity there was no reedbeds. The area I live in is a stronghold for the Gargany Ouse Washes. You can hear them quite a bit see them half adozen times a year. To get them close enough to the shot that you want probably only once every five years. Always enjoy your videos Roger and yourself Who is number two I’m unable to decide so to me you are both number one. 👍

Thanks Mike for sharing :) Ronny

I presume the OM1 mk II autofocus is not noticeably better then the OM1 then ?

Thanks for the video. I'll be interested in your thoughts on the OM1 II. From my experience I wouldn't expect to see much difference in shots such as these. Where I have seen a difference is with smaller birds in confusing backgrounds (in shrub branches) where the Mk 1 tends to find the branches too often where the Mk 2 finds the bird. It can also follow birds flying behind branches somewhat better.

Lovely video as usual Mike. Just testing the newest firmware 1.6 for the OM1. Although there is no mention of AF improvement - there does seem to be some improvement in C-AF. Bird detect seems better when birds are slightly hidden. C-AF is maybe a little stickier. C-AF in video is still awful. Interested to know what you think. Thanks!

A review of OM-1 firmware 1.6 versus OM-1 Mark II could be of interest.

Lovely results Mike. Coming in with flood of others in expected migration period looks good for wild origin doesnt it. 10 years or so ago there were 3 or 4 Garganey at Cannop Ponds in the Forest of Dean uber confiding, hard to call them 'tame', they stuck together none had rings and again they arrived in normal migration pattern, a dream to get shots of though! Enjoy.

Very difficult duck in Sweden also...

hi loved the video mike. any chance you could share the location you are at for me please. i would love to visit there with my dad. :)

Great! I didn't know that one. I guess that with the firmware update planned for OM-1 in autumn for your usecases the gap between OM-1 II and the first version will close even further.

Great as always. Mike I avoid laying on the ground by mounting a small video head upside down on the lowered center column of my tripod, by adjusting the center column and tripod legs you can get the camera as low as desired. I trigger my OM-1 with it's wireless remote. For long sessions use an external HDMI monitor mounted on the tripod. I am about your age and lying on the ground is a thing of the past. If you want me to include a picture I will on request.

Nice video Mike, by the way what is the browser & program you use for a quick viewing through of all your photos ?

I've never seen a Garganey. Without your identification I thought it was a Pacific Black or Grey Teal. I've just read that these are to be found in Australia.😳

Interesting video, Mike. I admire your patience! To get your smooth bokeh on C1 do you have the lens wide open? Just curious.

Great video Mike. Is it the DJI Osmo 3 that you're using to shoot yourself talking to camera?

What's the park name please Mike?

The fact, this Garganey is stuck to a female Mallard is another hint this bird may be an escapee.

I wonder the c af for video has improved for OM-1 mark ii or is it still the same as the mark I?