Lesser Scaup

The last of the beautiful winter ducks have departed the Chesapeake Bay region, leaving a few stragglers here and there for whatever reasons.

The most of any one winter duck visiting in our local area were Lesser Scaup. I got so many wonderful captures of them, it was hard cutting down my final ones to these.

Lesser Scaup males vying for a female’s attention

Female Lesser Scaup and her entourage

Lesser Scaup (female)

Lesser Scaup (male)

The United States harbors Lesser Scaup year-round in parts of Washington and Oregon, but the rest of the country’s winter visiting Lesser Scaup migrate back to breed in Montana, Wyoming, and Canada.

Lesser Scaup in flight

Lesser Scaup landing

Lesser Scaup taking off at sunset

Lesser Scaup taking off after sunset

Lesser Scaup taking off at sunset

Female Lesser Scaup coming in for a landing

Female Lesser Scaup landing

Female Lesser Scaup landing with reflections

Female Lesser Scaup coming in for a landing

Female Lesser Scaup landing

Female Lesser Scaup landing with reflections

Male Lesser Scaup landing

Lesser Scaup (male) coming in for a landing

Lesser Scaup (male) preparing to land

Lesser Scaup (male) landing

Lesser Scaup are the most abundant diving duck in North America, with a breeding population estimated at 3.8 million.

Male Lesser Scaup popping up from a dive

Male Lesser Scaup up and ready for another dive

Male Lesser Scaup “popping back up” from a dive for food

Way too many photos, sorry!

“Yes, Donna, too many photos!”

Lesser Scaup (male)

How nice to know they will be back late Fall the end of this year!

Tags: blue bill, Cambridge, Chesapeake Bay, Eastern Shore, female, flight, landing, lesser, male, Maryland, profile, reflection, Reflections, scaup, winter

48 thoughts on “Lesser Scaup”

John on 04/13/2019 at 4:25 PM said:

Too many photos? Not at all, Donna! These little ducks are so beautiful. The female must be a great catch considering her entourage. 😬😎🙏🏻😍

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 5:50 PM said:
  
  Aww thanks John! I can get carried away. hee hee Aren’t those blue bills the prettiest?!! 🙂
  
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  - John on 04/13/2019 at 5:55 PM said:
    
    Very! Like miniature Drakes and Mallards. ❤️
    
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Jet Eliot on 04/13/2019 at 4:29 PM said:

Fantastic photos, Donna. Interesting info about the lesser scaups, too. How nice that you still have a small population to enjoy before they migrate. Really like the landing shots of the scaups here, especially that one with all four in a row preparing to land. Also great photos of the males vying for the females. Thanks so much.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 5:52 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Jet, and you’re welcome! I had a great time with the Lesser Scaup. With Spring here, the swift change of bird species is happening quickly. It’s another wonderful start of another season of change. 🙂
  
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Stephen Talabac on 04/13/2019 at 4:43 PM said:

So many terrific portrait and action shots for me to pick a favorite Donna!! That being said, your flight shots (especially the last few “coming in for a landing”) are especially outstanding! Love the tack sharp, brilliant yellow eye and the contrasting color of the purple head.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 5:55 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Steve! I had a lot of fun with these little ducks and those gorgeous blue bills & bright yellow eyes. And you know me loving the challenge of flight! 🙂 There are still two males hanging here at the end of our creek, I’m not sure why they haven’t left.
  
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neihtn2012 on 04/13/2019 at 5:09 PM said:

Donna, you are spoiling your readers with so many gorgeous photos of these Lesser Scaup! The flight and landing shots are so fantastic!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 5:58 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Hien! ❤ I was truly blessed with so my photo opportunities with this species! Oh and I do love to spoil, ask my grandboys! 😊
  
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Susan Hale on 04/13/2019 at 5:14 PM said:

Donna, these are beautiful, and I totally understand the ‘waaay too many photos’, as I have the same problem. How to pick just a handful is impossible when they are all so beautiful and full of action! Great job! As of today we have a remaining pair of ruddy ducks and a couple of horned grebes, but I think our lesser scaups have finally departed. Thanks, as always, for sharing!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 6:00 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Susan, we have such a hard life when it comes to picking photos, huh?!! 🙂 Ruddy Ducks, cool! I saw one of our grebes few days ago and there are two male Lesser Scaup hanging around us in the creek, they are puzzling me on why they haven’t left yet.
  
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Life On The Patio on 04/13/2019 at 5:33 PM said:

Donna, I love all of the in flight shots you captured…so beautiful! You are very talented!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 6:06 PM said:
  
  Aw shucks, thank you, Diane! I have a passion for the challenge of flight. Oh-so-many don’t make the files. lol But, I have improved greatly over the years and love it! 🙂
  
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  - Life On The Patio on 04/13/2019 at 6:09 PM said:
    
    Your passion definitely shines through. Thanks so much for sharing with all of us. They are just beautiful☀️💚☀️
    
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    - bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 6:32 PM said:
      
      Your comments have made me smile so big, thank you! 😊
      
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creatingmindblog on 04/13/2019 at 5:58 PM said:

Your photos of the ducks in flight and landing are superb! 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 6:08 PM said:
  
  Thank you so much, I enjoy the challenge of flight and action, it’s very rewarding to me! 😊
  
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H.J. for avian101 on 04/13/2019 at 6:08 PM said:

You have so many great photos, Donna. I like them all! Thank you for the post. 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 6:30 PM said:
  
  Thank you, HJ, and you’re so welcome! I had too many great moments and ops! 😉
  
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Jane's Heartsong on 04/13/2019 at 6:55 PM said:

What fun photographing these Lesser Scaups! I like the shot of the one female being trailed by the 3 Drakes, leaving those patterns from the wakes. but can’t forget the close-ups and the reflections as they come into the water.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 7:50 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Jane, they have kept me entertained throughout the winter, they were awesome to photograph. They’re enroute to you now! 🙂
  
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aussiebirder on 04/13/2019 at 8:26 PM said:

Great shots Donna! That blue bill is so much like the one on our Blue-billed Duck male, though the duck itself is quite different. The Blue-billed Ducked is very very shy of humans, and keeps a long distance making it very difficult to photograph, but your Lesser Scaup seem to be quite settled to have you nearby.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/13/2019 at 9:22 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Ashley! I’ve been surprised by our Lesser Scaup in the creek, they have grown accustomed somewhat to their surroundings, but are skittish when someone comes walking nearby. My vantage point on my balcony serves me well! 😉
  
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Chris Riley on 04/13/2019 at 9:48 PM said:

Gorgeous photo sad always Donna.i particularly loved the one of the female Lesser Scaup and her entourage – those herringbone ripples behind all the ducks are just gorgeous.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/14/2019 at 6:59 AM said:
  
  Thank you Chris! You should see how excited I get when the water is calm/flat and ducks are swimming. When the lighting is right, the water ripples beautifully!
  
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montucky on 04/13/2019 at 10:47 PM said:

Gorgeous photos of a very pretty little duck!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/14/2019 at 6:59 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Terry!
  
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Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog on 04/14/2019 at 3:11 AM said:

I love the patterns, both on water’s surface and on the beautiful ducks themselves. 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/14/2019 at 7:03 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Tom! Me, ducks, and water are a perfect combo, I love ‘chasing’ the rippling waters around them!
  
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sir albertus on 04/14/2019 at 6:53 AM said:

The Lesser Scaup is a funny name for this bird. I never heard of it before. I learned something new today. Brilliant action photos Donna!

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/14/2019 at 7:15 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Al! There is a Greater Scaup as well, but they are not near in population numbers and have a slightly different ‘look’, just to confuse us all! 😉
  
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Irene on 04/14/2019 at 7:52 AM said:

Amazingly beautiful captures! ❤️

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/14/2019 at 7:57 AM said:
  
  Thank you, Irene!
  
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Indira on 04/14/2019 at 8:26 AM said:

Amazing pictures of the bird….from all possible moments and angle!! 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/14/2019 at 5:50 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Indira! They were real good giving me awesome photo ops, it was duck heaven on our creek this past winter! 🙂
  
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Tiny on 04/14/2019 at 1:46 PM said:

There’s no such thing as too many photos! He was wrong, but hilarious 😀 Loved your action shots, Donna.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/14/2019 at 5:53 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Helen! Wildlife can give some of the most perfect photo ops for some hilarious chuckles and smiles! 😊
  
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  - Tiny on 04/15/2019 at 7:00 PM said:
    
    So true! You had several good one in this post 😀
    
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belindagroverphotography on 04/14/2019 at 4:46 PM said:

Lovely shots Donna! Looking forward to seeing some here before too long.

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/14/2019 at 5:55 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Belinda! I told them to wing on in for you real soon! 😊
  
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Eliza Waters on 04/14/2019 at 9:04 PM said:

Loved this post, Donna. REALLY loved it! 🙂 What a great eye you have. 🙂

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/15/2019 at 5:32 AM said:
  
  Thank you much, Eliza! ❤
  
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tanjabrittonwriter on 04/15/2019 at 8:27 PM said:

Never too many bird photos, Donna. 😊

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/16/2019 at 11:35 AM said:
  
  Thank you much, Tanja! 😊
  
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Gunta on 04/19/2019 at 7:44 PM said:

Love, love, love all the landing shots. I doubt there could ever be too many shots of those! 😀

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/19/2019 at 8:57 PM said:
  
  Thank you, Gunta! No, never enough perfect flight and landing shots! 😉
  
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Rolling Harbour on 04/21/2019 at 2:42 PM said:

Terrific shots Donna – I really like the male landing… RH

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- bayphotosbydonna on 04/22/2019 at 6:59 AM said:
  
  Thank you, I do too – happy dance on those! 🙂
  
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