Diver 2 of a Different Feather

[Squatty]

Couldn't get really what I wanted out of the "prop" shot because I couldn't get elevated to shoot down on the subject(s). Nevertheless it sort of worked but I took a close up head shot of the two that I think I like better.

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m18/squatty420/Hunts/LonglineDivers_1357-Frame.jpg

http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m18/squatty420/Hunts/DiverDrakes_1396-Frame.jpg

[Rubberhead]

I love the prop shot with the bufflehead decoys. It proves it wasn't an accident. :)

The colors in the head of the mature drake bufflehead are breathtaking.

How did you expose it? Manual, spot, pattern, +/-EV?

[Squatty]

Thanks Rubberhead!

Manual

[jckegley]

What is the larger bird? The bill looks like some type of merganser. So if that is obvious, but it doesn't look familiar to me.

[Squatty]

Joe it's a drake Red-Breasted Merganser. Not very well plumed out. They usually don't get fully plumed out until late January or on into February unfortunatly. I say that b/c I'm a collector and am in the process of collecting a "prime" example of one of the 32 different species (drakes not hens) of ducks that are huntable in North America. I'm currently sitting on 22 and the Red-Breasted is one that I'm still in search of a prime drake. I actually got a better plumed out drake of one last year in Alaska but it still wasn't fully plumed out.

[jckegley]

Well, I would have guessed wrong. Without going to my Sibley's my first thought was a Common Merganser. After going to my Sibley's I see you are right.