Take offs are fun, sure see some contorted poses at times at the moment of 'launch'!
The second shot is a winner, you squeezed out a catchlight in the eye, amazing. The repetitive water spray is a nice lead in to the subject, nice light too. My suggestion would be to look at the image without the bottom band/bar showing and see how you like it..............I think it is level in the bg but the foreground throws it off.
The first one is a fine shot (a shame about that structure in the background.)
On the second one you've got the light and the water working for you .....how can you not do good ?
A little bit of a clean up work as suggested already, and you've got a super and unconventional shot of a Bufflehead takeoff.
