3 Attachment(s)
Female Northern Shoveler & Floating Blind.
Photo taken in local slough in Nd. Processed with Dpp 4,Photoshop. No Topaz on this made it look funky.
I recognize a little soft on the bill and rather too large in the frame.. Very small crop from the bottom to balance. This female was preening in a small cove on the rock. Initially she had her back to me. Then took a short nap. I was waiting for her to face me.
Didn't get to spend much time as the male was swimming around close by. When he swam away she also left.
I missed the wing flap as I had switched to vertical The light was somewhat shaded as she was next to the cattails light was from the side. I would have liked to gotten the feet in better focus. Not sure if 5.6 would have accomplished that. The male species of almost all my ducks look like crap now going through the eclipse
stage. This is my floating blind. It is not all that easy. I get wet every time out. Maybe its just me. First everything in Nd is wild. We shoot at everything here. They even have a season on Swans. To get to most subjects don't have much alternative but to get in the slough. This slough is rather large thousand acres maybe more.
I do much better in smaller sloughs. You have two choices get in a cove at a pinch point and let them come to you. Sucked back in the cattails works best. As you can see from the photos if your out in the open the blind is rather obtrusive IMO. Sometimes your subject may be inquisitive, not ordinarily though.
Grebes for the most part tolerate you in open water but not the Pied grebe spooky is best way to describe it. The blind works pretty well on most shore birds. You can even move after then with little attention payed to you. Great Blue Herons and egrets won't tolerate any movement. I never get them. Ducks are very keen
always seem to be aware of your presence. Can never get close to ducks in open water just enough out of reach. The blind does give you opportunities that would not be possible with out it. Photos are never level. I will not go into big water over eight MPH wind as the blind is like a cork or fishing bobber would be the
best description hard to get focal points. Even hard to hold on to the blind as it wants to move on you with the wind. I have moderated the size of the blind over time currently at 36x36 rather small inside. works best in 3/4 Ft. water very uncomfortable in shallow water. I have a Wimberly head as I can have some height
adjustment. I use cattails for camouflage usually but if I have grass reeds I use them as thy offer better three dimensional view as cattails jus lay flat. Add some new stuff everyday. Wear a wind breaker, long undewear always and even have a wool cap in the middle of summer. It can be cold here any day of the year
especially at 4.30 am. If I can leave the blind in a small cove hidden from view it works best as not having to move it everyday and I think it works better because ducks get habituated to it. In this particular setup. The blind is across the lake and I have a kayak i use to access the blind. Not all sloughs are navigable
have some with too much muck never know how far you will sink and can get scary quick especially moving around in the dark. I have fallen out of the kayak and flipped the blind in a beaver hole when I stepped into it. Gets scary quick if you have never swam with chest waders you should try it some time guaranteed
you will hit the panic button I wear a belt around the top of the chest waders to give me some time before I drown.
I know this is a lot of rambling just trying to give some insight to a morning with a floating blind. Any tips on improving the blind would be appreciated.
Canon R5
Rf 600 f4 L
4.0
1/2000
ISO 4000
