Ring-necked Ducks

 

~A male Ring-necked Duck shows off his namesake, the maroon ring around his neck. Upper Greenwood Lake, 03/02/17.~

It’s not very often that I get good photo ops with ducks because, as we all know, ducks tend to keep their distance. I think it would take some work, planning, and likely a photo blind to actually get really good shots of most ducks (at least from the shore – I’ve had much better luck from the kayak). Yesterday afternoon I found a group of Ring-necked Ducks at Upper Greenwood Lake that just didn’t seem to care. I saw the birds from my car, I pulled over and parked, but unfortunately the only way to approach was on foot. I did so slowly, fully expecting the birds to swim in the opposite direction, leaving me wanting. I must be on a roll because they did no such thing and instead just carried on as before. I photographed them for about 20 minutes; when I left they were still in the same area going about their business. I then continued towards the black dirt, where I was going to spend the evening participating in the DEC’s Raptor Survey. It was an excellent pit stop which yielded a nice series of pics of these RNDUs, in really nice light.

~RNDU at Upper Greenwood Lake, 03/02/17.~
~I think this female Ring-necked Duck has some admirers… Upper Greenwood Lake 03/02/17.~
~This is one handsome devil. RNDU at Upper Greenwood Lake, 03/02/17.~
~The females are a little less dramatic but just as attractive to me. RNDU female at Upper Greenwood Lake, 03/02/17.~
~RNDUs at Upper Greenwood Lake, 03/20/17.~
~RNDU drake at Upper Greenwood Lake, 03/20/17.~

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