It was duck day at the pond…. I only saw one GBH and that was after I had packed up to go home. You know how I always say “pick a time and don’t leave before that time is up?” Well that proved to be right on the money because these ducks waited until 15 minutes before I was scheduled to leave to come close enough for a few pics. Patience is a learned skill and if you don’t practice it you will never get better at it.
Anyhow, it was actually Wood duck day, and both the drakes and hens were at their peak of color! The two males below spent half an hour just cruising up and down a small section of the pond, trying to impress the ladies. Click to enlarge the images…
showing their best side….
Take a closer look at the two males below. Notice how the one on the left doesn’t have the feather colors or configuration of the one on the right? I’ll make a guess and say that the one on the left is a first year bird while the other one is a true studmuffin!
before and after….
How about me????
And don’t count out the ladies either! This girl is telling the Mallards that they are in her spot!!!
The one below isn’t anything special but it is a pleasant composition and I like it… we call these kinds of pictures “birds on a stick”…
Chillin’……
And here is where I explain “barking at the Moon”…. The next sequence is one you’ll see quite often if you spend any time watching Wood ducks. I’m sure the other ducks do it too but woodies are just look prettier doing it! It just seems to me like like he is barking at the Moon!!!
Struttin’ his stuff…
Look at me honey!
If he gets any higher he’ll fall over backwards!
Coming back to earth….
Notice during this whole sequence the female is not paying any attention whatsoever!
And that is why you never leave early! I would have missed a great performance! (at least I thought so even if the female didn’t)
Hope you enjoy!
