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Archive 2022 · Duck Fight

morris
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p.1 #1 · Duck Fight

The sound of lots of splashing grabbed my attention and then I spotted these two male mallards chasing each other in a tight circle. It reminded me of a dog chasing it's tail yet much faster with water going in every direction. This was happening close with the circle just inside the frame of my 500mm PF and at first I could not predict where they would go making it hard for me and thus my camera to track the action. Once I figured it out my Fuji X-H2s somehow found an eye to focus on in any frame one was visible, an incredible achievement that I could never had done using traditional methods. I suspect I would have had a lot of sharp water with ducks slightly out of focus in the background. Shooting at 40 FPS that slowed to 30 FPS once the buffer filled resulted in a lot of frames over the two minute fight. I've picked out 19 federate moments to share.

Comments and suggestions welcome,

Morris

1) a gull watches as the two threaten each other

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/850s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

2) The duck was grabbed by the wing and flipped

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/850s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

3) Duck charges the other

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/850s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

4) They circle trying to bight each other

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/850s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

5) Duck trying to avoid the charge of the other

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/850s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

6) Full speed ahead

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/850s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

7) I dare you!

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/850s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

8) They flip each other

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/850s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

9) They continue to circle

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/850s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

10) Stare out

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/850s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

11) The duck on our right backs off while the other attacks

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/950s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

12) A tight crop of both on the attack - continuing in the thread

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/950s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

Dec 13, 2022 at 10:12 AM

morris
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p.1 #2 · Duck Fight

Continuing to the exciting conclusion

13) The duck on the right gasps for breath

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/800s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

14) The duck on the left attacking

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/800s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

15) Circling as they both go on the offensive

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/800s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

16) That's going to hurt!

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/800s 800 ISO +0.3 EV

17) The closer duck trying to escape

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/500s 800 ISO +1.3 EV

18) Duck fleeing

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/500s 800 ISO +1.3 EV

19) the winner celebrates and a female watches

X-H2S NIKON AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR lens 500mm f/5.6 1/400s 800 ISO +1.3 EV

Dec 13, 2022 at 10:13 AM

louie champan
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p.1 #3 · Duck Fight

Well documented Morris, they do get aggressive. I've seen geese go at it the same way.

Dec 13, 2022 at 11:08 AM

YEG-Photog
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p.1 #4 · Duck Fight

That is a lot of action! Good sequence.

Dec 13, 2022 at 11:26 AM

birdied
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p.1 #5 · Duck Fight

Neat set.

Birdie

Dec 13, 2022 at 08:00 PM


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