Today, the first day of 2017, I went to the Barnegat Lighthouse jetty to find Harlequin ducks. For years, they have chosen that place as their favorite Winter playground because the current is swift along the jetty rocks, and also because there must be a lot of mollusks and crustaceans for them to eat.
Today the sun was finally shining bright after a long string of gloomy days. The Harlequin were out in force, at least a dozen of them, swimming, diving, and the males trying to pair off with several females. They were so busy that they did not mind several photographers hovering nearby taking their pictures. I was able to come quite close to them without scaring them away.
Carol King said:
I’ve never seen these ducks before. Beautiful photographs.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Carol! You never saw them when you lived up these parts?
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Amy said:
Unusually beautiful ducks! We don’t have these ducks in TX.
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neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Amy! These ducks seem to like cold and turbulent waters, something that Texas may not have.
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Tiny said:
The males are beautifully colored, I feel for the females … 🙂
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neihtn2012 said:
Perhaps the males have to look good to attract the females!
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Eliza Waters said:
Such beautiful ducks!
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Amy said:
They are beautiful! Wonderful captures!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Amy!
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quietsolopursuits said:
I’m happy for you that you finally had a chance to get outside, did you shoot these with your new lens? Not that it matters, the images are excellent, and the ducks are beautiful!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Jerry! I did use my new lens, and so far it has produced my best Harlequin photos yet.
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gabbartrip said:
Beautiful creatures, and beautifully captured too!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you very much!
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Helen C said:
Excellent photos, Hien. And beautiful ducks!
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neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Helen!
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bayphotosbydonna said:
These are stunning, Hien, what a gorgeous duck! I’ve yet to see and photograph a Harlequin Duck, I am jealous! 😉
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neihtn2012 said:
Donna, come to Barnegat between late December and February, and you will see and photograph them!
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