Harlequin Duck

Gallery: AvianPosted October 4, 2011629 views13 comments

Just for fun I thought I'd share an image of a local celebrity. Harlequin Ducks are virtually unheard of in these parts and this female is causing quite a stir. She's been hanging around the Antelope Island causeway for about a week now. It's a large crop and the bright rock behind her isn't ideal but I liked the light. And no, that isn't a rock in the LRC but I thought it looked enough like one to not be too distracting. The image is not without its faults but I'm still happy to get a few decent photos of a rarity around here.

7D, 1/1250, f/6.3, ISO 500, 500 f/4, 1.4 tc, shot from pickup window on 10/3/11, cropped to 45% of original image, exposure adjustment in ACR, cloned out a very small but distracting piece of bright debris on the water surface, sharpened bird and perch, no additional processing or adjustments, natural light at sunrise, not baited or set up

Larger version provided

Comments/critique appreciated

Comments

13 comments

Comment posted by Richard Ditch on October 4, 2011 at 3:54 PM

Not bad at all IMO. Always nice to get a shot of a rarity, and even better when the shot exceeds the minimum level of documentation.

Registered on November 1, 2003, 1031 Posts, 12705 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 4, 2011 at 4:00 PM

I like Richard's commentary! I also like the stance and, well, ruggedness of the duck. The light is wonderful. So what is that thing in the LLC? Looks like another duckbutt.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Dudley on October 4, 2011 at 4:06 PM

So what is that thing in the LLC? Looks like another duckbutt

Phil - assuming you mean LRC, it's a grebe with its head underwater while it's feeding. If you really meant LLC, that's just another rock.

Registered on March 30, 2007, 437 Posts, 10915 Comments

Comment posted by Philip Hodgkins on October 4, 2011 at 6:23 PM

I wondered. That rock sure looked like an upended duck, though.

Registered on July 24, 2006, 2741 Posts, 12349 Comments

Comment posted by Ron Bielefeld on October 4, 2011 at 6:38 PM

Just amazing to see this bird out your way Ron. Although I agree with your assessment of the image, personally I like it. Nice light and I love the pose and surroundings. Great that the grebe decided to put its head under at that moment. If you would not have mentioned the grebe was not a rock, I probably would not have notice it at all.

Registered on December 6, 2008, 360 Posts, 7132 Comments

Comment posted by Matt Shellenberg on October 4, 2011 at 9:15 PM

Great light, Ron. Congrats getting this rarity. I agree the rock behind her is not ideal, but I think the light makes up for it. Nice image.

Registered on February 6, 2008, 168 Posts, 3118 Comments

Comment posted by Dennis Plank on October 4, 2011 at 9:41 PM

Nice light indeed, Ron. You get plenty of focus separation between the duck and the rock behind her in the larger image.

Registered on January 28, 2008, 1767 Posts, 23192 Comments

Comment posted by Jim DeWitt on October 5, 2011 at 12:53 AM

Congratulations on a fine shot of the rarity. Lovely light. She's supposed to be in a giant raft of Harlies and Longtails off of Kodiak Island, but apparently didn't get the memo.

If you hadn't told me the LRC rock was a bird I'd never have guessed.

Registered on August 28, 2006, 1240 Posts, 8506 Comments

Comment posted by KC Choo on October 5, 2011 at 9:52 AM

For me any rarity documented is always nice. Like the light and getting it wing-stretching!

Registered on November 15, 2004, 519 Posts, 8278 Comments

Comment posted by May Haga on October 5, 2011 at 6:01 PM

Beautiful capture Ron. Nice to get such a good shot of the local celebrity.
May

Registered on February 22, 2007, 714 Posts, 8470 Comments

Comment posted by Ray Whitt on October 5, 2011 at 10:00 PM

Love the light and it is a very nice pose. The rock doesn't bother me as the bird seems to stand out well against the background.

Ray

Registered on May 27, 2011, 92 Posts, 2619 Comments

Comment posted by David Haynes on October 5, 2011 at 10:42 PM

Very good capture of the rare duck Ron. I have never seen one before and I'd be thrilled to death to have this. The light is exceptional. Larger post shows pretty good detail. Your nit s are worth noting but the light in this makes up for any other shortfalls IMO. Too funny about the grebe feeding. Not at all a distraction. Beautiful Ron.

Registered on February 20, 2010, 110 Posts, 1511 Comments

Comment posted by Graham Brown on October 7, 2011 at 6:56 AM

Looks very natural to me Ron. Lovely morning light. Graham

Registered on November 20, 2007, 275 Posts, 1365 Comments