Female Bufflehead
I’ve recently had the pleasure of watching a visiting female Bufflehead from my balcony in the marina below. Unfortunately, it was cloudy; but I lucked out that she came closer towards me.
Female Bufflehead
She was quite busy, diving and feeding on aquatic invertebrates. (click on first image to start slideshow)
You can see how she spreads her tail and uses it to propel herself into the dive. Buffleheads are the smallest diving duck in North America.
(click on first image to start slideshow)
With her little blue beak, the female Bufflehead is an adorable beauty.
Female Bufflehead wing stretch
“Ahhhhh, that felt good!”
I was fortunate on obtaining many interesting captures with her reflections and water wakes.
Female Bufflehead
It is always a delight to have surprise visitors. I’ve seen her twice since, so I’m hoping I see her again on a day when the sun is shining.
Wow Donna, I have never seen this duck (I think). So beautiful! So tiny and acrobatic too, love how you captured her little feet underwater as well as her underwater. 🙏🏻❤️😎
Thank you John! The male is gorgeous, you’re more apt to recall seeing it. 🙂 I tried several times to capture her swimming back up from the dive but the photos weren’t the greatest. I know one thing, she was fast!
She sure is a pretty little gal!
🙂 She thanks you!
That’s a lovely little duck. It moves gracefully I can see. Great shots Donna. 🙂
Thank you, HJ! 🙂
Marvelous captures. We have quite a few Buffleheads out here. Love to watch their crazy antics. Only wish I could get captures as beautiful and crisp as yours. They’re definitely my favorite duck.
Thank you Gunta! They are quite comical, coming in for a landing, scooting on top of the water, trying to stop, lol. I believe Eric painted Buffleheads on your RV? Did I remember that correctly?? 😊
Yup! Eric made cutouts from vinyl sheets for the Bufflehead art on the back of the camper. I didn’t know much about individual ducks before he came along. It’s been a blast getting to know the individuals and I think the buffleheads are my favorites. I just corrected a typo saying “bubbleheads” and decided that might not be a bad description. 😀
😊
I love buffleheads, and love your pictures, especially with the spread wings showing the pretty pattern. If the sun comes out hopefully you will get a chance to capture the male also!
Thank you Susan. I’ve been watching but have not seen a male. Buffleheads are monogamous (not many ducks are) so maybe she’s a young one and lookin’! Yes, a male and her in the sun, that’d be perfect.
Sweet shots, Donna! Especially like that wing stretch one! 🙂
Thank you Tom, I was thrilled with the wing stretch photo myself! 😊
Another beautiful bird, we have those in Alaska also. Many of your birds lately are up here as well. Not sure where you at, but in SE we have usually about 230 migratory bird types as well as many residents.
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I am in the Maryland Chesapeake Bay area, which is a critical north/south migratory fly-way path, so we are lucky to get many species, whether passing through or visiting for the winter. Alaska is on my bucket list!
These are the best photos of the feamle Bufflehead that I have ever seen!
Thank you very much, Hien! Now if only the sun and a male was also present….. 😉
Great action shots, Donna! I hope she sticks around for you.
Thanks Ellen, me too!
She is a beauty! And I love the name “bufflehead” ❤ 😀
Yes, love the name! Sometimes I wonder where some of the names come from! Thanks Takami!
I always look forward to your photographs 😀
Awwww…thank you Takami! Me you too! 🙂
Excellent series of this little beauty!
Thank you Belinda!
I add my praise to the chorus regarding these lovely shots.
Thank you Tom!
Great balcony shots Donna of a very lovely little duck, but why do they call it a Baffle Head?
Thank you Ashley! The Bufflehead’s name is derived from “buffalo head” or “bull head”, due to the way they puff out their head feathers, greatly increasing the look of the size of their head on such a little body. 🙂
My favorite of the series is the Wing Stretch. They’re so adorable. Lovely series Donna.
Thank you Deborah! I only seen her do a wing stretch once, so I felt lucky and thrilled to get the shot, I love it too! 😊
She’s a real cutie, and I loved the way that you were able to catch her in the middle of a dive the way that you did!
Thank you Jerry!
Your photos are wonderful, Donna. I had never noticed that they fan their tails prior to diving. Thank you for pointing it out. I love this tiny divers. It become clear just how small they are, when one sees them next to, say a mallard.
Thank you Tanja! I loved how she hung around for hours in our small marina, letting me know she felt safe there. 🙂
Very nice series of shots!
Thank you!
What a fun visitor to have in these wintry days.
It is, thank you for your comment! 🙂