Wood Duck Drake

Found a great puddle in the woods with awesome filtered lighting and a very handsome drake to make these images. Wood ducks are one of my faves to photo. So secretive, extremely hard to get close to without flushing and wonderfully decorated in brilliant colors!

Do the Hokey Pokey

I found this couple very photogenic and tolerant of the photographer which is highly unusual, as their instincts are to flee first and ask questions later!



It seems as if they are doing the Hokey Pokey: "Put your right foot in..."








...and the Drake says: "What are you lookin at? She's making me do this stupid dance!"



Click on either photo for larger view!

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder

Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder, originally uploaded by Hannibals Animals.

The Wood Duck hen is often overlooked, focusing on the brilliantly colored drake. But if you look close enough, she has some pretty significant, albeit subtle colorings too. The golden yellow eyeliner surrounding her deep maroon eye, the muted irridescent patch on the top of her head, and the green/blue metallic hues flanking her wings, just to name a few of her gorgeous markings... She's a beauty! (View Large)

An Afternoon with Woodies!

Even though the lighting wasn't right, my shutter speed wasn't right, and these pictures show the lack of both, I had a great time yesterday, spending some observation time with some woodies. You don't get that chance every day, especially in a car on the side of the road, as they avoid most intrusions, but this couple, even though, very hesitant, reluctantly dabbled along this fluddle, keeping an eye on the big gray monster. If only everything was perfect, but that almost never happens does it...






She is not as drab as one might think!

Flock of Shovelers

A flock of Northern Shovelers, Blue-winged Teals, and a lone Wood Duck have been calling a flooded out cornfield home.



Their aerial display was really cool to see. They flushed as I approached with my car, but turned around pretty quickly for these shots. I didn't even notice the wood duck until processing.

I Love Woodies

Every Spring brings another quest to capture wood ducks a little closer than the previous year, as my luck with these guys is weak. I've had a few encounters that were indeed pretty close this year, topping last years success by many feet, ultimately vying for that perfect portrait I see in my mind.



The stories I've told over the years on this very blog about how my attempts have brought nothing but sarcasm, to even this weekend, when Cutti & I successfully flushed every single wood duck in the woods without snapping a single photo, and ending our hike with a triumphant "Mission Accomplished" as we left! (Our only purpose for going to this particular park was wood ducks)



Luckily, as I was driving through my regular route on my way home from work, I spotted this wood duck just off the country road.



The lighting was nice, but the shadows drew this elusive guy in for safety. I did get a few decent shots before he got away.

Duck! It's a Wood Duck!

A nemesis bird and extremely elusive, the very shy wood duck has escaped his portrait for all of these years. I've been as close as the photo below, but only for a split second before squealing away on many occasions. These dabblers have keen eye site and flush extremely easily. I've spent many mornings dressed from head to toe in camo, setting up shop next to creeks under cover, and waiting for precious hours for them to float by. It has never happened. They have landed in the trees above me, but just out of site of the lens. They seem to outwit, outplay, and outlast me every time for years and years...well...until friday afternoon.



I was walking a soggy path, looking for early migrants on a gorgeous friday afternoon, with temperatures in the mid 60's, towing mud encased sneakers that were weighing heavily on my pace with every step. The only good thing about the sog was the silence it brought with it. The forest was so saturated, that the leaves were limp and the path was vacant of other footprints for days or even quite possibly...weeks. Given this information, I knew what opportunity might be ahead as I approached a favorite spot of the wood duck. As I snuck up to the creeks edge, I already had sound signals that they were there. I heard the zipper-like sound just a few feet away, and with a quick peek over the edge, I got the visual confirmation.
The drake was circling and calling to it's mate. Now here is my chance! I am crouched down, making sure my settings are close, and take another peek. As I do this, the drake is closer than I thought, and almost completely in view. I knew for sure that I blew it, but to my amazement, it did not flush! Hmm...very strange! Well since opportunity knocked, I am going to answer and fired off a few shots. I ducked down again, to check my settings, still amazed it didn't react to the sight of me. My next idea was to belly crawl to the edge which was a big commitment, given the muck. Was it worth it to attempt this? I pondered it for awhile, and then as I was about to fully commit, the wood duck caught site of me, recognized me as a threat, gave his warning call, and flushed along with 5 ( yes 5!) of his friends. Doh! Anyway, I did get a few shots, capitalizing on what I am sure was a courtship display in action. Even though I didn't end up being up to my elbows in mud, I sure wish I had that opportunity back and do it all over again. The weekend brought over 4 inches of rain, causing the rivers and creeks to flood, and any chance of revisiting the wood duck spot would be impossible for now.

Wood Duck Perch

Ah.....The Wood Duck...I hate to love them, but I do...I stalk them every year, and come up with crap, well...not the close ups I dream of...Anyway...This one flew into a tree for a different perspective.

My Wood Duck Luck Sucks!

Editor's Note: I wrote the first part of this post before getting some new shots of wood ducks. My luck wasn't so bad...


I torture myself every Spring. I scheme to outsmart the Wood Duck every single year and fail. I have hundreds of dollars in camo gear & waste lots of valuable weekend sleeping time, all for what? A duck! What is so great about this particular duck? Why am I not satisified with the shots I have? Why do I have to have that "close up"? Well, I'm sure it's because I can't get it!






I've hiked thru woods with a flashlight just before dawn too many times, sat in a tree over a creek, or against one in the tick-filled forest, and just can't get a "swim-past-me" duck to cooperate.





I have sat against these trees for hours, and just when I have given up all hope, they fly in, see me, and change coarse-That has happened every freakin time!


On 2 different occasions, the exeact moment I stood up, they flew into the tree I was under, and couldn't get an angle to shoot from below. My wood duck luck sucks!





My last attempt (these are the photos) was in my car. I was headed to the gosling location (from my recent post) & was excited to get there to find the babies, and of course, had a one-track mind. I pulled into the parking area, opened my car door, and what-do-you-know....I flushed a pair of Wood Ducks from within 15 feet of my car. I would have been looking for them, had I not been so distracted. Wood Ducks frequent this slough regularly, but...I hate it when that happens! Oh well, if everything was easy, there would be no challenge! Some day, Wood Ducks...Some day!

Editor's Note: This part of the post deals with my newest photos of wood ducks taken a few hours after I wrote the post above...



I take it all back! I don't want no bad Juju! Wood Ducks Rock! My luck has changed!


I still don't have that Close-Up, but I did feel lucky to discover these guys. I was walking yet another new trail, when I came across a guy in the opposite direction. He saw my camera, asked the usual questions, then told me he saw a Mallard with 1 baby-over there-as he pointed to a swampy area. I asked if he had seen wood ducks, and he said no. I thanked him and was on my way. Well...I saw no mallards, but I did find a few wood ducks!





The day was perfect. The sun was at about 2 o'clock, and the water was like glass.





This particular wood duck gazed into his own reflection...I wonder what he thought of himself?





How can anyone mistake a mallard and a wood duck?

WHO'D A THUNK IT-I GOTS ME A WOODDUCK

I've been going to my favorite spot for weeks now, trying to capture the pelicans that have clustered at the wide waters of the Des Plaines River in Channahon. The new park is called McKinley Woods (a branch off the the current McKinley Woods located a few miles away). I'm just gonna say it: I don't like the name. This park is located on Moose Island which is quite a stretch from the original locale. This new name is going to get confused with the other location, for example: "Hey, where did you go? McKinley Woods! -Which McKinley Woods? The one on Moose Island? Yeah, that one! ...or... No, the other one!"--Just plain stupid to me. But I digress...

Back to the story

I find my favorite spot which is some slabs of rock at the shoreline that I can sit on and watch both directions. To my right is the widewaters where the pelicans gather. To my left is where the herons, egrets, kingfishers, and various ducks find solitude from the open water. I took some shots of some pelicans flying off, but that was pretty much the excitement of this morning at this location. I stayed about a half hour, got bored, and thought I should just go home. On my route back, I went by another favorite spot, and looked out to my left where I didn't expect to find my nemesis...the male woodduck. I didn't want to slam on my brakes so I kept going, got my camera ready, slowed down to a stop, took some shots of the water for proper settings, and put the car in reverse. This guy was close to the road, and as his reputation is widely known, he will flush in an instant. I have got to be smarter than your average woodduck. I am coasting in, armed and ready. I get off 2 shots before he flushes. I take those shots too. He landed just an apples throw away next to his lady, so I crept up and shot off some more. These shots are the closest I've ever been to them (20 feet), so of course... my quest continues, but...A crappy boring day turned into BLAM! A great day! Who'd a thunk it?

Not My Wood Duck Photo

I have a personal vendetta against woodducks. I stalk them every chance I get during their breeding season. I have purchased camouflage in hopes to outsmart these little fellas. I get up way before dawn to set up my equipment before they wake up, just to capture a close photo which involves sneaking into the forest with a flashlight, backpack, and chair, stealthily weaving through the trees with my bulk. I arrive at my pre-determined site and set up as quietly as possible. I sit there for hours waiting....I do this most every weekend in the spring....I never get my duck even though the site is famous for them. I've tried other "good" sites-proven sites through my own eyes. I sneak just the same, but still, I haven't captured that visualized photo in my head. I see and hear them plenty. I see them as they flush from their cover and scream danger with their call, and send any within hearing, off to a safer place. That has happened to me every single time. I take great care with my planning and strategy, but something is still wrong. What? I don't know yet. I'm still learning, and luck has yet to grace me.
I've attempted these shots for years. I've not been beaten yet, I still have hope, and one day I will prevail...

Last weekend, I took "Becky" out shooting. We haven't done this in a long time, so I was hoping for a good day. We take off for my sweet spots and cruise the country roads. As we are passing a small and swampy pond, I check for activity, and what do you know...woodducks. Lots of them. I am driving, and the shot is on Becky's side of the car, so I hand her my camera, give her a 15 second lesson, and get into position. She takes her shots, which are somewhat distant, but all in all, she gets to shoot a prize I have yet to get. The swampy composition was something to envy, and even though the ducks are losing their bright plumage, it made for a really good "rookie" shot. Good One Becky!!!!