Common Merganser hen at sunset

[Bill Dix]

I haven't posted this before now, because of several obvious deficiencies: she has gotten slightly past me, and the near wing position is less than ideal. But as I look through my old files I keep coming back to this because of the way the last rays of the setting sun caught her against the darkened, partly frozen lake last January. I don't know if this counts as a duck.

500f4 + 1.4 TC, ISO 800, 1/1250s @ f/7.1 manual. From a prone position lying in a lakeside snowbank. Cloned out an oof merg. in the background.

[Allen Sparks]

Hi Bill,
I like the light and the water drops. You have mentioned the nits already. Nice catch.
Allen

[gail bisson]

Agree with your self-assessment but just love that killer light.
Is a merganser a duck? Would love to know the answer to this. In most ID books mergansers are listed in the same chapter as ducks or waterfowl.
Gail

[Karl Egressy]

The light is truly amazing on this shot, Bill. Self critique about the shooting angle covers it well.

[Randy Stout]

Bill:

This light makes for a striking image. Yes, some issues, but the light is so good, that it is still a very effective image.

Cheers

Randy

[Geoffrey Montagu]

Great light and subtle BG, Bill. Glad you chose to post this image.



Geoffrey

[Marina Scarr]

Is a merganser a duck?

It appears to be referred to as a "diving duck" so it would seem appropriate to call it either a duck and/or a water fowl as well.

Lovely light here, Bill. I wouldnt' have passed up this opportunity!