Wood Duck

Gallery: AvianPosted January 20, 2013133 views5 comments

1-20-13 Oak Canyon Nature Center, Anaheim Hills, California

D800 Nikkor 600mm f/4.5 1/320 ISO1250 Center weighted RAW White Balance Auto Manual Processed in CS6 & NIK

This is the site Jim Hackley indicated when he posted his Wood Duck photos. My first photo was taken Friday morning and I went back today. The sun was over the canopy of trees and the ducks were particularly skittish. Despite sitting under Quik Camo for nearly an hour, the ducks did not approach my position. But I got a few shots.

Comments welcome

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Patrick O'Healy on January 20, 2013 at 11:53 PM

I neglected to mention that my wife and I hiked through the park, which is quite beautiful with a stream through it, and on the way back down sat on a bench watching a Great Egret hunt 30 feet from us. While we watched for ten minutes, he caught two crayfish and ate them. Unfortunately, the camera was in the car while we hiked.

Registered on March 13, 2011, 326 Posts, 1679 Comments

Comment posted by Christine Adams on January 21, 2013 at 6:00 AM

Cute story. I have always wanted to get wood duck shots and yes, they are skittish! You've done well here!

Registered on January 24, 2006, 119 Posts, 1871 Comments

Comment posted by Rick Turner on January 21, 2013 at 10:00 AM

Wood Ducks are hard to catch. The camo should work but sometimes they are determined not to be photographed. Mate season is the best time to get close and personal..

Registered on February 18, 2012, 534 Posts, 2755 Comments

Comment posted by Charlie VanTassel on January 21, 2013 at 4:56 PM

I use bread. No need to hide then......

Beautiful shot, Patrick. Very sharp and great colors.

Registered on October 18, 2006, 644 Posts, 4801 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Hackley on January 23, 2013 at 3:41 PM

Looks like you were dealing with the bright light which can make those water reflections and background really stand out. I was fortunate that the morning I sat down next to the stream they finally got use to me. However the next day I went back in the afternoon and they were not very approachable. Oak Canyon is a wonderful place to go hiking as you never know what type of bird you will see.

Registered on September 17, 2009, 302 Posts, 5535 Comments