Wood Duck

[Bill Dix]

Close encounters with Wood Ducks are a rarity in my neck of the marsh. I lay in one spot for three hours the other morning, only getting one brief close pass (plus a bit of poison ivy from belly-crawling up to the edge of the marsh). I grabbed just a few frames before he saw me, and could not get a better HA. C&C appreciated.

D7000, 700mm, ISO 800, 1/2000s @ f/7.1 manual.

[Colin Driscoll]

Pretty bird. I like the falling drop. Pity about the reeds but you take what you can get and that sounds like serious committment!

[Marina Scarr]

I really like the feel to this one bill. The vegetation works nicely. I like the color palette. I just wish the duck weren't turned slightly away. Super water drop!

[Miguel Palaviccini]

Definitely a different (and nice) take on the Wood Duck. As Marina mentioned, the color palette lends itself well to the rainy day.

Like you mentioned, the head angle isn't ideal, but the water droplet definitely adds to the image.

[Neil Nourse]

With no out of focus reeds in the foreground I like this as it does show the environment they live in. Water drop is a nice touch, just wished he had looked your way.

[Bill Dix]

Thanks everyone. I did like the environment and color palette. But the bird's angle is a bummer. I'll have to keep trying.