Wood Ducks in February

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Wood Ducks in February

February 9, 2021 by Mike Powell

Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) in my area are really skittish and often take to the air before I have even spotted them—they make a very distinctive and loud noise when disturbed and taking flight. Last week at Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, however, I was fortunate to spot a pair of wood ducks at the far side of a small pond and snapped off a shot of them before they could react to my presence. Fortunately I kept shooting and managed to capture some in-flight shots as they were taking off.

Wood ducks are probably the prettiest of all of the ducks where I live. The stunning colors and patterns of both the female, on the left, and the male are breathtaking, especially when the light is good.

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Aix sponsa, Canon 50D, Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Tamron 150-600mm, wood duck, wood duck takeoff, Wood Ducks, Woodbridge VA | 14 Comments

14 Responses

on February 9, 2021 at 7:26 am | Reply Dan Antion

They take off quickly. Good shooting, Mike.
- on February 9, 2021 at 7:36 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan. Normally the birds react more quickly than I do. I was thrilled that I was able to get off shots that were more or less in focus, which is certainly not guaranteed with moving subjects.
on February 9, 2021 at 8:00 am | Reply Mitzy Bricker

Lovely captures, Mike!

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- on February 9, 2021 at 9:40 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Mitzy.
on February 9, 2021 at 8:45 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Nice Mike! Just Ducky!
- on February 9, 2021 at 10:37 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks for the wise quack, Reed. 🙂
on February 9, 2021 at 9:38 am | Reply Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography

Skittish is an understatement 😂😂. Nicely done.
- on February 9, 2021 at 9:40 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  I like to refer to them as screaming ducks–I hear them more often than I see them. I am still waiting to get decent shots wood ducks perching in a tree, something that I do not see very often.
  - on February 9, 2021 at 10:26 am Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography
    
    Once in the last 5 years I shot them in a tree…and they are the most common duck here.
  - on February 9, 2021 at 10:37 am Mike Powell
    
    Wow. There is a marshland park in our local area where I know that I have a better chance of seeing them, but the park is too popular and crowded for my taste, especially during these pandemic times.
on February 9, 2021 at 12:58 pm | Reply Leo Chiasson

Excellent!

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on February 10, 2021 at 6:37 am | Reply nliakos

Wow, Mike, well done!!!! The only duck more beautiful is the Mandarin Duck, which we aren’t lucky to find around here! These are gorgeous.
- on February 10, 2021 at 8:31 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Nina. A few years ago, I remember seeing photos of a Mandarin Duck that was in Central Park and I must admit that it was even more spectacular than my beloved Wood Ducks. Of course, there is beauty in so many of the creatures that surround us all of the time, if we only take the time to notice it. 🙂
on February 10, 2021 at 4:45 pm | Reply krikitarts

I’ve long hoped for a close encounter with a wood duck in Minnesota, and the hope persists. You’re fortunate to have them in your haunts.