Sometimes the action just gets ahead of the photographer. Or as a friend on mine was wont to say about other occasions.  “Never let your ambitions overweigh your capabilities.”

Seemed an easy shot. Duck takes off.

Just a bit slow on the ‘panning’ on this one.  A hint to all those who have ambitions of developing a good panning technique.
1. Be very sure you know where the action is going to be when you press the shutter.
2. Face that direction. Adopt a “Bow Stance”, see tai chi details or an archery class.
3. Wind yourself back in the direction of the oncoming action.
4. Pickup and follow the subject
5. Unwind as you go
6. When at the position established in Point 1. release the shutter.
7. Continue to follow through at the same pace as the moving subject.

Reason being quite clear if you think about it, you wind up, tension and all, then unwind, tensionless and the shutter goes off while you are perfectly balanced.

All good in practice, but when the duck explodes from the water.
So I ended up with the Male Chestnut Teal with its beak and wings right on the edge of the frame. 😦

This is a bit of a rescue in Photoshop.  Opened up the Canvas Size, and then added some water/ripples etc from another shot at the same location/time.

Aren’t ducks wonderful.