From Brigantine NWR in late December. "Brig" is a difficult place to photograph birds. There is almost nowhere that one can get down to water level for a low POV shot. The advantage, though, of shooting from the raised dike is that the higher POV allows for a nice reflection when the water is calm.
The most elegant duck in North America! One of the few times when getting lower would have wrecked the image! Beautiful and serene. Very well done. I cut my birding teeth at Brig as Philly kid. Great place.
Very nice reflection and nice IQ on the duck.
Love that calm water.
A bit more of a head turn would have been nice.
I see a dust spot about an inch to the left of the head reflection.
Great look at those tail feathers.
Nice one Bill.
Thank you all for your comments. Gail, you recently commented (perhaps facetiously) that your eyes were aging. I've always thought you had some of the best eagle eyes around, and this is one example. Admittedly mine are more aged than yours, but I sure don't see that dust spot. There are a few little specks in the water that I chose not to take out, but I don't think that's what you're seeing.