White-winged Scoter

[Ryan Schain]

Environmental shot of a White-winged Scoter at the Stage Harbor Inlet in Chatham, Massachusetts. This was the first time I've ever found this species (let alone any scoter species) in the summer.

Morris Island - Monomoy National Wildlife Refuge
Chatham, Massachusetts

August 31, 2009

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2632/3899110228_de96513b0c_b.jpg

Canon EOS 50D
Canon EF 100-400mm F 4.5-5.6 L IS

1/800
f/6.3
400 mm
ISO 400
+1 EV

[Tony Whitehead]

Great patch of light on the duck, Ryan. I might remove some of the dark spots on the water and especially the target shaped OOF highlights in the BG.

[Bill Jobes]

Very nice capture, Ryan.

With an image such as this, I often try a creative crop and present it in a long rectangular aspect ratio.

In this case, I would crop the photo at the peak of the main dark waves above the bird's head -- in other words, I'd remove about the top third of the image.

Congrats on the first-time white-winged scoter capture. That always makes is special. :)

[Axel Hildebrandt]

Good find, angle and eye contact. I've seen Surf Scoters in the Chatham area in the summer but no White-winged Scoters. I would go for a tighter crop and the color of the water looks not quite right.