Mating Mergansers

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

It is always a good to know that the species is being continued and hopefully we will have some babies this spring.

Nikon D300
Nikon 600 mm F4
ISO 400
1/1250, F9
manual

All comments are appreciated. Thanks

[Linwood Ferguson]

The eye, and that glint from it, on the male is great. Good angle, light is great. I wish the beak didn't merge with the female's head. I would be tempted to crop a bit more off the right, especially if you have a tiny bit more of the water in the back of the birds.

I wonder if a duck's reaction is "how can you do that on land!?" :)

[Art Peslak]

A great behavioral shot. Nice light and the splash off the back of the male is great. I think the beak merging with the female's head actually adds to the shot.

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Many thanks for your comments as they are most appreciated.. The merging beak is part of the mating process with most ducks as the male holds the females head down during the mating time and sometimes even submerges her head under water. In an other situation the merging beak would be less than desirable but in this case this is what occurs in nature. Agaim sincere thanks for taking the time to look.

Best
judylynn

[Arthur Morris]

Yeah, I was gonna say, that's a grab not a merge! (I was gonna make a suggestive comment here but thought better of it :) I am sure that most of you could figure it out...) Perhaps a reverse S Curves adjustment could reduce the great contrast between the blacks and the whites.

What time was the image created, and where?

[Judy Lynn Malloch]

Many thanks Artie for your comments. I will give the reverse S Curve a try !!! This was taken aboutt 8.30 in the morning at Viera. I spent two days there this week and there was a lot of action and also the male masked duck was sighted on both days.

Have a wonderful weekend
judylynn

[Don Lacy]

Hi Judy, As soon as I saw the image I thought it was Viera I pulled the image into PS and I was able to get a little more detail in the head but the unfortunately the blacks on the breast are clipped and there is no detail left.

[Arthur Morris]

YAW Judy. I was thinking along Don's lines. This one might benefit from two conversions. It sure was bright for 8:30. You did great getting them in clean water and parallel to the back of the camera.

[Linwood Ferguson]

The merging beak is part of the mating process with most ducks as the male holds the females head down during the mating time and sometimes even submerges her head under water.

Learned something new, thank you!

[Juan Aragonés]

Judy I like the timing a lot, light and shoting angle are very good and you have got both birds paralel to the camera´s sensor with excelent eye contact :)

[Ofer Levy]

Well done for getting this behaviour! Looks a bit soft to me - is it a big crop?

[Ted Willcox]

Great image. I have mallards doing this [mating]. I might crop a little differently giving a little less head room.
Ted