Long-Tailed Ducks

One of the more exciting winter ducks to visit off and on this winter along Cambridge Creek has been a lone juvenile male Long-tailed Duck.

I’ve only once seen and photographed this duck in flight, so this winter’s chance of opportunity to get so many wonderful captures of this species was a thrill to say the least. I’ll try to ‘hold back’ on the number of photos!

Long-tailed Duck (male)

Only the males have the long-tail plume. I watched him several times and finally caught our visitor flipping his ‘tail’. They do this as part of a courtship display. There are no females around, so maybe this young fella was practicing for his return in the Spring to find a mate. 🙂

Long-tailed Duck (male) flipping his ‘tail’

The Long-tailed Duck breeds in the Arctic and winters along both coasts of North America, usually in large flocks that raft often far out at sea. They also winter in the Bering Sea, Hudson Bay, and Great Lakes.

This duck is one of the deepest diving sea ducks, diving as deep as 200 feet (60 meters) to forage for mollusks, crustaceans, and a few small fish.

Going….

going….

gone!

Going….

going….

gone!

Taking the plunge…..

Submerging….

Do I go right? or

Do I go left?

Formerly known as the Oldsquaw duck, it was renamed in 2000 as the Long-tailed Duck because of it’s name’s sensitivity.

Long-tailed Duck (male)

Stretching those wings!

We took a trip down to Hoopers Island to dine at Old Salty’s Restaurant (BEST crab cakes in the area!) a few weeks ago; afterwards as always, we road to the end of the islands where it meets the Chesapeake Bay. (I highly recommend a road trip down to Hoopers Island.) I sighted both a male and a female Long-tailed Duck out in the open waters of the Bay. I could not believe it!

Adult Long-tailed Duck (male) shot at a long distance on the Chesapeake Bay

Long-tailed Duck (female) on the Chesapeake Bay

Long-tailed Duck (male) on Cambridge Creek

How lucky our community is to have this young male Long-tailed Duck hanging around Cambridge Creek this winter for our enjoyment!

Tags: cambridge creek, Chesapeake Bay, dive, diving, Eastern Shore, female, flight, juvenile, Long-tailed Duck, male, Maryland, profile, winter

41 thoughts on “Long-Tailed Ducks”

neihtn2012 on 03/03/2019 at 6:58 AM said:

These are absolutely the best photos of this duck that I have seen!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/03/2019 at 8:38 AM said:
  
  No way, Hien! 😉 You made me smile!! 😊 I hope my post conveyed just how thrilled I’ve been with this beauty myself!
  
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Reed Andariese on 03/03/2019 at 8:47 AM said:

Wow Donna! These are Great photos! I have never seen this duck before!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/03/2019 at 9:03 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Reed! I’ve been very lucky to have this winter visitor here on my creek. I cannot get enough of him! 😊
  
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blhphotoblog on 03/03/2019 at 9:34 AM said:

These are beautiful ducks and well photographed! I only ever get to see them long distance with my ‘scope in the winter on the sea here in UK.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/03/2019 at 5:06 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Brian! This little fella has been such a delight to watch, with me always hoping he’ll swim over my way just a little closer. I am going to miss him! 🙂
  
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John on 03/03/2019 at 10:37 AM said:

They are amazing! I’ve never seen this duck before, and it can dive 200 feet! 😮😍❤️😎

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/03/2019 at 5:10 PM said:
  
  Thank you, John, they are, and I can’t get enough of this visiting one! We are only 8-12′ deep here in the creek, but he’ll still stay down twice as long as most of the other ducks when diving. And then come out somewhere else way off where you didn’t expect him too lol. 🙂
  
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Backyardfriends on 03/03/2019 at 12:50 PM said:

Great photos! First time I have ever seen this duck! ❤ B)

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/03/2019 at 5:15 PM said:
  
  Thank you! I am having a wonderful time with this fella, I will miss him when he migrates back very soon!
  
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Susan Hale on 03/03/2019 at 2:52 PM said:

Donna, these are wonderful photos! And I loved your commentary. I have definitely seen more long tailed ducks this year than ever before, including one adult male at the inlet by Kentmorr Restaurant on Kent Island. Lucky you to be able to watch this activity from your home!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/03/2019 at 5:17 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Susan! I had another friend tell me about the LTDuck at Kentmoor too. Who can blame him for wanting to hang at Dirty Dave’s Tiki Bar for his winter vacation! 😉
  
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dhphotosite on 03/03/2019 at 3:10 PM said:

Wow Donna! It must have been really difficult to contain yourself after seeing these little guys…and gal! You are fortunate to live by water and the diversity of bird life!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/03/2019 at 5:20 PM said:
  
  Thank you, David! It was lol! We are very lucky to be in this area of water and birds, it feeds both mine (birds) and hubby’s (boats) passions. Boat and birding together is even better! 😊
  
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  - dhphotosite on 03/03/2019 at 5:41 PM said:
    
    Boats….Yay!!!
    
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Jane's Heartsong on 03/03/2019 at 4:34 PM said:

Your series on the diving process are outstanding. You have captured so much detail in these photos. We are weeks behing you, but I am hankering for those spring days when we will see these ducks again.Thanks for sharing, it really gives me hope.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/03/2019 at 5:29 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Jane, and we’ll thank that little fella who put all the energy into those dives too! 🙂 I had already taken so many dive shots at a distance in previous days, and then one day he was literally down below my balcony, diving. I think I almost wet myself, lol, trying to go back in and grab my camera and then quietly sneak back outside and watch/wait/shoot, hoping I wouldn’t scare him away. He finally did get wind of me, but I was able to get so many better dive shots than before. It was exhilarating! 🙂 I am going to miss him when he leaves (saw him last Friday), but I’ll be glad to send him back to you for your Spring!
  
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H.J. for avian101 on 03/03/2019 at 7:07 PM said:

Excellent shots of these beautiful birds Donna. WE just got rain and more rain today! Thunders and lightening to top it. After a few beautiful days that looked like the end of winter… Good work my friend. 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/03/2019 at 9:31 PM said:
  
  Thank you, HJ! 🙂 I saw the tornadoes ravaging Georgia and Alabama, I hope they were far far from you!
  
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  - H.J. for avian101 on 03/03/2019 at 9:40 PM said:
    
    We had heavy rain and thunder through the day and a Tornado Alert for a while, I think it will be the same tomorrow. Thank you my friend. 🙂
    
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    - bayphotosbydonna on 03/04/2019 at 6:56 AM said:
      
      Praying for safer weather for you and the southeast today, my friend!
      
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      - H.J. for avian101 on 03/04/2019 at 9:15 PM said:
        
        I appreciate it very much.
Ted Jennings - TPJ Photography on 03/03/2019 at 8:13 PM said:

I love that shot of the duck underwater. Really nice article 👏👏

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/03/2019 at 9:31 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Ted! 🙂
  
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Gunta on 03/03/2019 at 11:31 PM said:

Wow! This is marvelous! Great shots. The underwater shots are pretty amazing.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/04/2019 at 6:50 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Gunta! His diving was a cool challenge to try to capture. 🙂
  
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brighamstephen on 03/04/2019 at 10:14 AM said:

I usually have to trek to the Ocean City jetty to see this bird. Glad to hear its found in Cambridge Creek also. Nice shots and info. Thanks.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/05/2019 at 11:17 AM said:
  
  I know it’s been quite a thrill to me to see him. I saw him again a few days ago. I have really enjoyed watching this fella!
  
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montucky on 03/04/2019 at 4:04 PM said:

Pretty duck. I had never heard of that species before, and it’sinteresting to see!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/05/2019 at 11:23 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Terry, I think so too, I just love those contrasting feathers!
  
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aussiebirder on 03/05/2019 at 3:49 AM said:

I take it this is a rare sighting Donna, and you have had a wonderful opportunity to profile it? Congrats on your sighting, and your fine images.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/05/2019 at 3:51 PM said:
  
  For our populated creek, it is. 🙂 They are more a sea/ocean duck, but the Chesapeake Bay region gets a few sightings out on the open waters, I’ve also got two friends just north of me who have both seen another male adult LTDuck in a marina, This gorgeous fella we’ve had visiting in our creek has been truly an excitement for me! Thank you, Ashley!
  
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tanjabrittonwriter on 03/05/2019 at 8:18 PM said:

What a gorgeous dude, Donna. Your photos are amazing. I am sooo envious. have looked for these ducks in vain repeatedly. They are rare here, but every winter a few show up on one lake or another.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/06/2019 at 8:22 AM said:
  
  So I know you know how exciting this has been for me! 😊 He is a pretty handsome dude. I didn’t mention it on my post, but he’s become a little bully lately. Starts swim-charging the Lesser Scaup who quickly get out of the way. Little stinker.
  
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  - tanjabrittonwriter on 03/06/2019 at 7:57 PM said:
    
    He needs a lady by his side to teach him manners. 😊
    
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    - bayphotosbydonna on 03/07/2019 at 12:30 PM said:
      
      Bingo, Tanja! 😊
      
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anotherday2paradise on 03/06/2019 at 2:34 PM said:

Great shots of these unusual ducks, Donna. I haven’t seen any before. They’re really cute with their long tails. 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 03/07/2019 at 12:28 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Sylvia! 🙂
  
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motherhoodjourney on 04/14/2019 at 9:11 PM said:

Very nice …..

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/15/2019 at 5:35 AM said:
  
  Thank you!
  
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  - motherhoodjourney on 04/15/2019 at 5:35 AM said:
    
    😍😍😍😍
    
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