A first for me.
Eleven days ago, while I was standing at the edge of a pond with my camera gear on a tripod and photographing cormorants directly in front of me, I happened to look behind me and saw this adult male Redhead. He was out of the water and preening within about 30′ from me.
Seeing a Redhead out of the water was such an unusual experience for me I immediately abandoned the cormorants, moved my tripod back to get a better light angle and hoped the Redhead would stay where he was and continue to preen. He did, for long enough for me to get several hundred photos of him in good light.
Eventually an ATV came along and scared him back into the water. I’m not a fan of ATV’s…
I couldn’t resist cropping one of them to a portrait. Handsome devil.
In all that time he barely moved his feet, so his body angle didn’t change much but he sure gave me lots of preening poses.
And some of them, like this one, looked pretty silly. He was trying to reach some feathers near the base of his neck and had to go through some contortions to have a chance at accomplishing it.
And it worked. The look on his face suggests that he was surprised that it did.
Some folks might think of Redheads as “only a duck” and wonder why I’d devote an entire post to them. But I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen a Redhead out of the water before (except in flight) and I know I’ve never posted photos of them on land to my blog, because I checked. So, for me this was an unusual opportunity worthy of documenting.
Besides, now I know what Redhead feet and legs look like.
Ron
No such thing as, “Just a …,” in my book. This Redhead is a stunner — love the portrait especially.
Now go take care of your back. 😉❤️
I’m trying, Marty. I’m trying…
Ron,
Nice shots but your comment “I’m not a fan of ATV’s…” took me back to a long night at LDS hospital about 20 years ago. A young (too young to be driving an ATV alone!) kid wrecked on an ATV and was flown to us. We operated on him for several hours through the night using over 200 units of blood. He survived and was intact but it was quite an effort. Motorcycles are no better, probably worse. This is not a political statement just a memory not intended to upset anyone.
But, lovely redhead pictures!
Best,
Stephen
Stephen, my mother was a registered nurse who spent years working in ER’s. She’d seen so many horrible things involving young people and motorcycles (no ATV’s back then) she made it crystal clear, like only my mother could, that I would never be on a motorcycle, or own one, as long as she had any influence over my life choices.
Her insistence, along with the horrible stories I heard so often, made enough of an impression on me that I think I’ve only been on a motorcycle twice in my life and I never pushed to have one of my own. Not even a little bit, even though many of my friends had them – including my cousin Ken Dudley that I was so close to. Ken almost died while riding his Honda 750.
Mothers …
We could be related!
😁
As someone who’s not really “into” water birds, I can honestly say I ❤️ this post with 5 images of a Redhead duck doing what a duck must do when it’s not on the water or in the air. He is quite spiffy-looking, except for those occasions where he’s looking sorta goofy.
So I say you “done good,” except possibly for your back! I hope you’re not regretting it greatly ….
Thanks, Chris. I don’t think that excursion to the pond did any lasting damage. But I won’t be doing it again in the near future..
He is beautiful, and quite the contortionist. His look of surprise to get those pesky feathers behind his neck is comical but I would be amazed to achieve anything remotely as agile…
So would I, EC. Especially these days.
He is a good looking duck. I had to laugh being a redhead and having two redhead children. Seen a lot of redhead feet and legs in my neck of the home woods!
April, that was quite a coincidence yesterday when you and I were talking about redheads and a particular pond.
yes, but mine was flightless.
Thanks for trudging out with your tripod to get these stunning photos.
If he’s preening just to attract the ladies, he needn’t bother. On the other hand, a little gussying up can’t hurt, although the look in his eyes for that 180º head turn looks like it might.
Lyle, that head turn is pretty impressive to this old guy whose joints aren’t working so well these days.
Handsome devil is right!
😁
Excellent shots Ron. That catch-eye stands out so well against the reddish heat color. I have not ever seen one out of the water either. During the winter I saw a female Hooded Merganser out of the water for the first time.
So you are out of the truck using a tripod – any strain on the back?
Everett, the walking required to get to this spot wasn’t good for my back so I haven’t done it since. Which drives me a little nuts but it is what it is.
Gorgeous dude……. Even his beak appears to be polished ! By my calculation,
you probably were off the surgeon’s table by only a day or 2 when you were off
in the wilds, wrestling a tripod and camera, to get these images ?
Kris, my surgery was on June 6th. These photos were taken on June 21st, so it was 15 days after my surgery. You need a new calcuclator… 🙂
I’m with you Ron – I have never seen their legs before. Thanks.
Burrdoo, one of my good friends, an accomplished and long-time birder and bird photographer, also says he’s never seen a Redhead on land so I presume he’s never seen their legs and feet either.
Beautiful duck AND shots! 🙂 Nice for you (and us) to get “the rest of the story” on a gorgeous water fowl………sturdy bird it seems from the looks of the legs. Hope messing with the tripod and camera didn’t come under the heading of “no BLT” 😉
” Hope messing with the tripod and camera didn’t come under the heading of “no BLT””
It didn’t Judy, at least not by much. Lifting 10 lbs is my limit and my camera, lens and tripod probably weigh less than 15 so I wasn’t much over.
But the walking wasn’t a good idea so I haven’t done it since.
Thank you for sharing, and congrats! I think they are beautiful ducks.
I think they are too, Michael. There’s just something about that red head and upper neck of the males.
Absolutely Great Shots Ron!!
Thank you, Dick.