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Bufflehead


Bufflehead
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6166] (21070)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2006-10-21
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/60 seconds
Details: (Fill) Flash: Yes
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2006-10-27 3:49
Viewed: 924
Favorites: 1 [view]
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This is a female bufflehead, taken at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Aviary.

You can see a male bufflehead here.

Bufflehead Duck
Bucephala albeola

Physical Description
The Bufflehead is the smallest diving or sea duck in North America. The name buffalo head or "bufflehead" is a direct reference to the duck's large-headed appearance. These ducks are strikingly beautiful. The male is black and white with a large white patch extending from the eye to the back of the head. The female is dark brown above, paler below and has a small white cheek patch. The male is slightly larger than the female.

Life History
The Bufflehead is a diver and unlike other diving ducks can take flight from water without having to run along the surface. Buffleheads typically eat aquatic insects, snails, crustaceans and aquatic plants. Buffleheads usually are seen in small groups. As one or two feed, the others will stand watch for potential danger.

These ducks nest in tree cavities, especially old flicker holes. The female returns every year to the area of her birth and lays one egg each morning for six to 11 days, some time between mid-April and May. She alone incubates the eggs for 28 to 33 days.

Meanwhile, as the females are busy brooding the hatchlings and coaxing them to the water, the males are "summering" separately on Bufflehead molting ground. The female and young finally are reunited with the males once the hatchlings learn to fly some seven to eight weeks after they hatch.

Habitat and Distribution
Buffleheads live by lakes, rivers and bays. Most breed in the northwestern part of North America. As winter nears, Buffleheads migrate to coastal water on the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts as far south as Mazatlan.

Source
dew77, Janice, musin1002, Juyona, jrubiocasado, scottevers7, sandpiper2, Alex99 has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To mrcrow: No PP : )manyee 2 10-28 10:49
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3315 W: 148 N: 6113] (18648)
  • [2006-10-27 3:55]

Hi Manyee, I've never seen a beauty called this before. Bufflehead. She's so pretty, and you show her so well. Nice and sharp and well composed.
And I love the water colours and patterns too. Like a painting, well done,
Janice

Hi Manyee...

This is just a perfect shot, very detail and outstanding, good use flash and I love how you composed it which gives a nice effect of water especially the nice waves...
Lovely lovely indeed....TFS!

Regards,
Musin

  • Great 
  • Juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2264 W: 10 N: 2633] (15577)
  • [2006-10-27 5:11]

Maravilloso disparo, y excelentes detalles, el agua y el disparo del flash genial, felicidades, saludos Victor

Hi Manyee,
Duck is a beauy and sharp.
Good simple compo...
Strange water effect...I wonder how it comes...flash light?
TFS
Annick

Parece que nos pusimos de acuerdo para subir patos, una toma muy buena con gran nitidez y los reflejos del agua igual de buenos.
Un saludo

Hi Manyee,
An outstanding shot on this Bufflehead! You caught some great light here. The colors in the duck and the water look amazing. Even though this is a mature female, they look almost like half grown babies. Very cute! This is one excellent shot!
Scott

A new species for me.
Quite well taken, for a plain greyish duck.
Very nice plumage details.

  • Great 
  • CTP Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 647 W: 6 N: 1106] (3191)
  • [2006-10-27 14:22]

Hi Manyee,
Excellent photo of this cute duck.
Great pov,dof,focus,sharpness,colors,reflections and smile:)TFS
Chris

Hi ManYee,

Mrs. Bufflehead is nice but I LOVE the water. I would have liked to see her less centered and more of that water!

TFS

Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3586 W: 143 N: 5690] (18601)
  • [2006-10-27 23:42]

Hi Manyee.
What a nice rainbow on a water on your picture. This is amazing scene. The delicateness and exactness of reproduction of this charming bird is tremendous. Perfect composition, colours, details and lights. My compliments and TFS.
Alexei.

  • Great 
  • dew77 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4774 W: 294 N: 4020] (13209)
  • [2006-10-28 3:46]

Hello Manyee,
What a pretty lady:)I'd never seen her before.Well caught,framed and composed.White feathers are a little overexposed,but i liked your model a lot.Thanks for sharing this beauty..:-)

snap!!!
good pp here on the water..makes the duck stand out
dull days here are hard to work with
god bless
geof

Hi Manyee,
Unbeliveable clear and sharp. Light is beautiful. Thanks for sharing.
Okan

  • Great 
  • Adam73 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 209 W: 5 N: 522] (2251)
  • [2006-10-31 13:23]

I agree this does look like a painting. Very beautiful shot. As already said the pattern in the watter is just awesome, colors and composition is great.

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