p.99 #4 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
More of the Red-breasted Merganser in a Gulf of Maine estuary, Christmas morning 2016. Wind was NW 16, gusting to 35, air temp 35 F., windchill from 0 F. to -6 F. and water temp at the nearest NOAA buoy was 46 F. So I wonder if the water felt quite comfortable to this bird. Interesting to think about.
p.99 #10 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
bs kite wrote:
Estuary in Gulf of Maine, January 5, 2017
Looks like you may need to clean that sensor Couple of big spots in that first portrait orientation image in the sky near the mast. Very nice images though.
p.99 #15 · Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR
I believe it was Jan 1, 2017...at the Gulf of Maine estuary I frequent.
I posted this crop not for its quality but the story it tells. The gulls make a big part of their living by just hanging right next to the eider ducks, apparently because they are easy to steal from. The gulls sit among the small eider rafts, and bully the crab away from each eider as it surfaces with the crab.
Some eiders have adjusted to this: They part from the raft to do their crabbing alone, some distance away from the group. But then the gulls have in turn....adjusted to this eider tactic. When a gull spots a single eider about to break the surface, the gull quickly flies away from the raft and over to intercept the single eider, just as it surfaces with its crab.
Here, the great black-backed gull is still looking for the eider that surfaced but instantly re-submerged and escaped to pop up a few yards away with its crab.
Heavy crop: These birds are about 300 yards away from the lens.
Couple of big spots in that first portrait orientation image in the sky near the mast. Very nice images though.
that surfaced but instantly re-submerged and escaped to pop up a few yards away with its crab. 
