Ducky Day

[Doug L]

The Mergansers (Common Mergansers, females) were resting on a log in the river - about 40 metres away. The Wood Duck (male, breeding plumage) would come up close if one didn't move around too much . Both images are taken with my 1300mm Maksutov/Cassegrain scope.

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[Mad Aussie]

How can anyone not like those wood ducks! :)

I like the Mergansers too ... they look like they are going fast even when sitting still :)

[Iguanasan]

The colours on those wood ducks are awesome... very nice shots both.

[Hillbillygirl]

Nice captures Doug, especially using that scope.

[Marko]

Nice set Doug L! - Do you mount the camera to the scope?

[XPWizard]

Nice shots!

[asnow]

Love that wood duck.

[Doug L]

... Do you mount the camera to the scope?

Yes, there is a camera adapter (short tube) that screws onto the scope, and a T-Ring mount is purchased (about $20.) which has the appropriate bayonet for the camera body. If one wants to look through the telescope eyepiece, the camera can be left on the camera. A knob swivels a prism/mirror? into the light path which directs the image to the scope's eyepiece.

[Doug L]

Thanks everyone for the comments. I agree that the male Wood Duck's breeding plumage is amazing. Here is a profile of the bird I took earlier that day with a 200mm lens. It was raining a bit and the light was very dim - hope to get a better shot with this lens on a brighter day.

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[edG]

very cool captures