Torrent Ducks

Gallery: AvianPosted February 6, 2015156 views9 comments

I spent an incredible couple of hours sitting on the banks of the Papallacta River watching these amazing ducks navigate the river. What began as just a sighting of the drake on the opposite bank turned into a Discovery Channel adventure of an entire family of three making their way up river. I was in awe of how easily they swam against incredible rapids, waters that I think any one of us would have been extremely challenged to survive, and they did so almost effortlessly.

Here is the Drake and Hen, I'll introduce the chick in another post.

Papallacta River, Guango Ecuador

D810
500mm f/4
1/800s @ f/11
ISO 1600
Even
Matrix
Gitzo w/ Wimberley II

Comments

9 comments

Comment posted by Sandra M. Apel on February 6, 2015 at 10:09 PM

Your image is a great illustration of the setting that you described. The ducks are sharp and color is rendered perfectly especially with the challenging lighting conditions I presume you encountered. I look forward to seeing the chick. I envy you the experience. Excuse my ignorance but what duck is this? Thanks so for sharing

Registered on October 15, 2013, 20 Posts, 171 Comments

Comment posted by Scott Frye on February 6, 2015 at 10:18 PM

Both ducks are sharp -- good choice in using F11 -- I like the foreground --

Registered on February 3, 2007, 387 Posts, 1136 Comments

Comment posted by Jim Gavin on February 7, 2015 at 2:43 AM

Outstanding.

Registered on August 14, 2008, 293 Posts, 1250 Comments

Comment posted by Mia McPherson on February 7, 2015 at 8:53 AM

Wow Chuck, these are beautiful! Outstanding image!

Registered on June 25, 2007, 491 Posts, 12566 Comments

Comment posted by Luke Ormand on February 7, 2015 at 10:21 AM

Cool little birds. This shot is nicely exposed and I really like the sense of habitat. Nice job with the f/11 as well

Registered on February 4, 2009, 1093 Posts, 7035 Comments

Comment posted by Jerry Austin on February 7, 2015 at 10:36 AM

I was not familiar with these ducks.Great capture showing off the habitat and the ducks. Looks like both are sharp, no small feat. Well done.

Registered on January 6, 2012, 651 Posts, 3448 Comments

Comment posted by John Launstein on February 8, 2015 at 6:23 PM

Very cool on several levels, Chuck! First, thanks for introducing us to this species (or at least those of us who were unfamiliar with them). Next, I agree with Sandra that there is a storytelling element to the image with foam and whitewater foreground, along with the soaked feathers on the hen(?). Really cool capture and I liked the accompanying story in the forum.

Registered on April 5, 2011, 223 Posts, 1193 Comments

Comment posted by Rob Drummond on February 9, 2015 at 1:50 AM

Nice one Chuck, great setting and getting both is a bonus

Registered on November 8, 2003, 617 Posts, 8267 Comments

Comment posted by Hans Overduin on February 9, 2015 at 10:52 AM

First time I see this species, and your image makes me almost jump on the next plane

. Love the birds, pose and overall image

, Hans

Registered on August 31, 2011, 491 Posts, 3807 Comments