For the last few days I’ve been seeing a handsome drake Hooded Merganser at one of my favorite shooting locations but he’s wild and very shy so he’s never allowed me to get anywhere near him. Until early yesterday morning.
When I got there he was resting in a rocky nook along the shore and he was much closer than I’ve ever been to him. But wouldn’t you know, there was a photobombing hen Mallard right behind him and neither duck had any intention of moving away from each other anytime soon. They look so different and they were so sticky with each other, I think of them as the odd couple.
After a long time, when the Mallard performed a wing stretch I decided to make the best of a less-than-ideal situation, take advantage of the show-off Mallard and fire off a few shots. I couldn’t decide which bird to focus on, but I was already focused on the Hoodie and he was in front so that’s where I stayed.
I think I prefer a vertical composition of the same photo, in part because it makes the Mallard smaller in the frame and appear a little less soft.
I kept hoping that the two ducks would move apart from each other so I could get some shots of the Hoodie, sans Mallard, but in 36 minutes it never happened. Then, toward the end, I started hearing a Belted Kingfisher chattering behind me. For nearly ten minutes I was torn between staying with the Hoodie and backing my pickup up to give me a chance at the kingfisher.
Eventually I succumbed to the kingfisher temptation. That noisy bird was impossible to ignore.
It turned out to be a female Belted Kingfisher fishing from a high perch. I was after diving shots of course but while I was with her she never did dive on a fish. So after a while I pulled forward to photograph the Hoodie again but by then, both Hoodie and Mallard were gone.
The life of a bird photographer, filled with missing birds. uncooperative birds and photobombers.
Ron
I think I enjoyed your commentary at least as much as the photos today! My cat heard quite a few snickers (or, in fact, LOLs) on my part … but, of course, I always appreciate the birds: photobombers, odd couples, sticky ‘fishers and otherwise.
But I don’t appreciate Everett’s kayaking photographer “friend”…that guy deserved a few rocks! 😠
I especially appreciate your first sentence, Chris. Thanks for that.
We don’t get either species of duck here so I would be torn. Or your kingfisher.
I loved the Odd Couple, but the kingfisher is also a delight – even if she was also sticky, and determined to stay on her perch.
Thanks, EC. She probably stayed on her perch because she didn’t spot any fish. Or maybe, just to aggravate me…
Fun photos, Ron, regardless of your challenges. And I think I need a vacation cabin, just so I can name it “Rocky Nook”!
When you get it, may I visit? 🙂
Wonderful photos, as they usually are but these are extra special. Thank you for another year of wonderful photos, scenes I would never get to see except for your photos!
Thanks very much, Mary.
‘They were so sticky with each other’
Still laughing!! How dare that boring female Mallard ruin your photo chances with the Hoodie. LOL
She had some nerve! Cheeky bird.
great series!
Thanks.
You need to throw rocks at the Mallard Ron. Just kidding of course, but there are times you wish you could take action like that. Some days you are lucky and some days not. The life of a wildlife photographer.
Like you I have always been an ethical photographer. Someone watching me taking photos of gulls asked me why I didn’t just toss a stone out among them to get them to take off. I explained to him
that I would never do that although I would certainly like to get a photo of them taking off. Then yesterday late afternoon I was there watching and an older guy in a kayak with a big lens camera sails right up to them and drives the whole flock off. As far as I know they have no returned, and they included Ring-billed of course, but also California, Bonaparte, and very rare for here Black-backed.
Photographers from all over the area have been coming to get photos.
“You need to throw rocks at the Mallard”
I felt like it, Everett.
Sometimes, us bird photographers can be our own worst enemy. Jerks amongst us.
The first shot of this couple said to me, “This isn’t an “odd couple at all!” — the hen is perfectly accessorized to complement her partner. Her bold wing bars tie her appearance to his all-over
tuxedo “look”without being matchy-matchy–which we all know is
totally passe’. I loved seeing them side-by-side !
“I loved seeing them side-by-side”
Good. So do I, Kris. But I’ll admit that I wondered if I’d be the only one that appreciated it.
Your “matchy-matchy” comment made me smile big because it brought back memories of my first ex-wife (not Diane). Long story, but I used to snicker over it. Apparently I still do…
Yep – how it goes some days! 😉 Still nice shots – prefer the 1st to the 2nd as it’s much clearer who the intended target was…… 🙂
Been/are doing the warmer in GF than here by about 15 degrees! Not enough breeze to clear the cold out of “this hole”……… 😉 Wind IS useful now and again!
Thanks, Judy. Considering how close you are to Great Falls, 15° difference is a lot. When it was very cold on the farm we used to say “It’s too cold for the wind to blow” and that’s pretty much right.