Standing tall - Hooded merganser hen

[Guest Foveola]

This proud young lady was imaged yesterday AM in the company of a great photo buddy who told me about a vernal pond that he has had good success with woodducks.  I got up at 3:30 AM to get to his place and then to the site well before dawn.  We both had small portable blinds that we sat in.  It took a while after dawn for the birds to start to show up. Unexpected was a pair of Hooded mergansers, which aren't common at this site.  The light was behind us and served to light her nicely.

 

D4  600VR with 1.4TC

 

Advice and comments appreciated.  Please view large.

 

Cheers

 

Randy

[Mike G]

Nice one Randy, very little to criticise.

[Guest Foveola]

Thanks Mike:

 

Always nice when they strike a good pose!  I have several frames of her at this spot, but I liked the head up one best.

 

Cheers

 

Randy

[Chris Wahl]

Great image Randy ...

 

Have you thought about getting rid of that red spot at the bottom? /nitpicking mode off

[Guest Alaun]

Very nice and I like the background colors.

 

I wonder why there seem to be two kind of bokehs, is that lower background flowing water ?

 

 

Werner 

[Guest Foveola]

Thanks Chris and Werner.

 

Chris - hadn't been bothered by the red spot, but would be an easy fix

 

Werner - yes the green area is water

 

Cheers

 

Randy

[Mongo]

lovely looking bird and fantastic detail in large view

[Andrea B.]

Very nice. Such lovely feather detail.

[Ron Scubadiver]

Impressive IQ.  The only way I would get up at 3:30 AM is if I believed "they" were coming for me.