The elusive wood duck

[Mags]

We had a couple Mergansers this morning.

[clovishound]

We had a couple Mergansers this morning.

Rub it in!

[clovishound]

A wood duck pair didn't seem to mind me being close today. I could have wished for better lighting, but you take what you can get.

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[Hatchdog]

That’s a pretty intense look in the first pic. All great shots you made.

[clovishound]

My first impulse was to lie flat on the ground while shooting. This gives a better angle on the birds. I got as low as I could with the tripod and me squatting down. I'm loath to lie on the ground near water sources after my little experience with a possible snake bite last year. Not sure it would have made much difference in the look of the final image, but straight on usually gives a more pleasing look.

[rickhem]

We get woodies in our little pond each spring.
I need to set up a nesting box out on the edge and see if any of them take residence.

[clovishound]

I would be spending too much time out trying to get pictures of them, if I had a pond on my property with woodies in it. A blind would be in my future as well.

[clovishound]

Well the Pup and I made it out to a new spot today. The local nature photography club chapter had an outing to a sanctuary/garden/lake upstate that has lots and lots of swans, as well as a wood duck or two.

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Here's a couple of the swans

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[clovishound]

"Alright men, today's sortie is going to be a daylight bombing run on that big gator in the south end of the pond. We'll come in low over the field and strike before he knows what hit him. The weather is clear with a 4 knot southeasterly wind. Any questions? Hey, let's be safe out there!"

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