We're Just Ducky

[Doug West]

This was captured at Lake Isaac near Cleveland, OH. Not the best as far as IQ,
but I've never seen a shot like this...then again, I don't get out much :)

This was some type of mating ritual. The male and female were at opposite ends
of the lake. They just started quacking at each other, circling in place. Then they
started for each other. Because of the distance I was away from them, I was using
my 600 as binoculars.

As they're getting closer, they're still quacking and I'm thinking, 'they better slow
down or they're going to crash'. When they got a few feet from each other it hit
me that they were going to run into each other, so I just started firing.

After the first butting of heads, they would do a 360 and ram into each other
again. After doing this about 10 times the male jumped on top of the female,
taking her underwater and 'ducked' her.

112879

[Roman Kurywczak]

Pretty wild Doug! As you mentioned....IQ isn't the best......but very cool story and behaviour! I have never seen this behaviour.....so you have given me some valuble info for the future! Must have been great to witness in person!

[Doug West]

Sure was great to see. That's the one time I wish my dslr had video.

Doug

[Daniel Cadieux]

The IQ isn't there, but the moment and description is (loved reading it). Have you tried a wider crop each side? Perhaps that would help a bit with the "big crop" look, especially for web.

[Cheryl Arena Molennor]

What a beautiful moment you captured here with a great story too..