Ruddy Duck Bubbling #1

[gail bisson]

I have always wanted to witness this courtship display behavior so I was thrilled when I saw this.
This duck is quite small ~ 10 inches long and soooo... cute.
Canon 1DX
600mm ISO 800 SS 1/2000 F 7.1
Minimal PP- modest crop to 70 % FF, warmed image up a bit, cleaned up a few specks in the water and dodged the blackish area in the BG.
Comments and critiques always appreciated and learned from with thanks,
Gail

[Joseph Przybyla]

Lovely image, interesting behavior. The dark area above the duck kind of draws my eye up there. If mine I might lighten it a tad. Thanks for sharing, Gail.

[keith mitchell]

Agree with Joe re the dark bit but that apart love this displaying duck, super work Gail.

Keith.

[Karl Egressy]

Wow, this is a truly amazing shot, Gail. I never knew that they blow bubbles as part of the courtship display. Excellent low angle shooting, fantastic pose.

[William Dickson]

Fantastic capture Gail, and you caught the action perfectly. Great POV and fab detail on the bird. Lovely colours throughout. The tail is just as cute as the head

Will

[David Salem]

I am so flippin jealous!! I have been trying for years to get this shot ever since I saw a drake Ruddy doing this bubble display some years ago. I got a few frames of the behavior but nothing like this. This is fantastic and has all the elements of a great frame.
The Alaskan light is beautiful and the side profile displaying the bubbles perfectly is as good as you could ask for. Great eye contact, a nice baby blue bill, the raised tail and the sweet BG and FG colors are wonderful. Love it!!

[Ákos Lumnitzer]

I think it is a lovely image Gail. Not being familiar with the duck and reading the guys' comments, this must be some fantastic behaviour that you managed to capture here. Well done.
I see what Joe said about the dark bit, but to me it does not see to detract. I love everything about this shot.
Your skills were certainly put to excellent use to attain this shot.

Thanks for sharing Gail!

[Bill Dix]

A beautiful frame, Gail. Would be so, even without the bubbling action which adds to it. Lovely light, your usual great techs. I don't mind the dark area.

[Marina Scarr]

This is a real stunner, Gail. Love the light, the behavior and the colors are gorgeous.

[Stu Bowie]

Hi Gail, lovely low angle here, and you have exposed this Duck so well - nice and sharp too. I do like the colour and calmness of the water, and of course, the behaviour takes this over the top. Well captured.

[gail bisson]

Thank you all for the comments.
David- This was taken in British Columbia not Alaska!
Karl- the bubbling doesn't come from the bill blowing air into the water but rather they court females by beating their bill against their neck hard enough to create a swirl of bubbles in the water.
Gail

[David Salem]

Gail,

Then you must have been with Micheal Ashby? Or the same spot? I saw him post a very similar frame on NS a few days ago. Looks like the same drake. Im loving this frame.

[Richard Flack]

Such a cool image Gail, and so great to capture some unique behaviour. Love the pose, BG and reflection. Well done

[Jim Crosswell]

Great image Gail! I would print this one and hang it on the wall.

[Grace Scalzo]

The definition of cuteness! Well done in all respects. I would personally try to lighten the dark vertical streak as it is a bit distracting to me in an otherwise pristine frame.