At least I think it’s a Blue-winged Teal. I struggle with teal ID when they’re not in breeding plumage.
When I’m at Bear River MBR I often try to get takeoff and flight shots of the various teal species but it isn’t easy. They’re fast little ducks and typically they either take off before I get my pickup stopped and the bird in my viewfinder or they don’t take off at all.
But yesterday morning the tides turned in my favor.
1/4000, f/6.3, ISO 800, Canon R5, Canon EF500mm f/4L IS II USM + 1.4 tc, not baited, set up or called in
There were three Blue-winged Teals swimming together and all three took off a split-second before I locked focus on any of them. But somehow, after they were more than a foot off of the water, I got this one in focus for about a half dozen shots. In a couple of photos I actually had two of them in frame and sharp without cutting off any body parts. I ended up liking this photo best, despite the very bright phrag stems in the upper background.
Once again the Canon R5 deserves at least some of the credit for my success but I was cussing that damn camera earlier in the morning. More about that in a future post.
Ron
Note: Subscribers to Feathered Photography likely noticed that my post email looked a little ‘different’ this morning. Yup, once again I clicked the “Publish” button before I was ready to post. At least it’s been a while since I pulled that stupid stunt the last time.
Such a pretty little duck. Hope you’ll post a few more of this morning’s shots.
Will be making the popcorn for your R5 post. 😉
Marty, not sure when the R5 post will be but it’s coming.
So wonderful to see the blue feathers! That is a first.
Thanks, Laurie.
Simply beautiful. And I quite like the phrag stems and love the water droplets.
Thank you, EC.
He has a very self-satisfied smile on his face, pleased with his wardrobe. Webbed feet tucked together nicely, wing patch perfectly groomed, not a feather out of place. Lovely!
Thanks, Carolyn. I agree, pretty snazzy looking bird.
Excellent Ron – you and that R5 make a good team.
Thanks, Everett. Sometimes we do. Other times we take turns screwing up.
Very nice capture. It has been wonderful seeing all the blue winged teal that stuck around this year. I saw so many this year hatch, young birds. Do the juveniles hang out together in big flocks like Canada geese juveniles? I only saw a few adults and they were alone or with another adult.
It was also fun seeing you and chatting yesterday morning. I have not even looked over my photos yet. I am not expecting any stunners. Everything was far away and jumpy. The American white pelicans were the only birds willing to stick around.
April, regarding your question, BotW only has this to say. It doesn’t really answer your question but it implies that maybe ‘we’ don’t know.
“Young believed not to remain together for migration, but few data available.”
I really enjoyed our visit yesterday. And it was quite a long one, considering that we were in the field.
The blue feathers are a beautiful periwinkle shade.
‘Was cussing that damn camera …’ hahahahahaha
Your relationship with your Canon R5 has been SO positive!
Kathleen, mirrorless cameras, including the R5, have their annoying quirks but yesterday was worse than usual.
Sensational shot, thanks for sharing!
Charlotte Norton
Thanks, Charlotte.
Beautiful! The teals ARE fast and hard to identify!
We all have to do “nimble fingers” once in awhile……. 😉
“We all have to do “nimble fingers” once in awhile”
Judy, I didn’t even know I’d done it before my own post email came in.
Another great wing feathers study photo. For what it’s worth, I think the bright phrag stems in the upper background (and the water droplets falling from the bird) help inform the viewer of the position/elevation of the bird above the water.
Thanks, Michael. Believe it or not, I toned those bright phrags down during processing. You should have seen them before.