Harlequin Ducks

Taken on Cape Ann, Massachusetts, 11/23/12.

These ducks are among the most colorful, and among the most difficult to photograph.  They ride the Atlantic surf from Cape Ann and north, close to shore, and dive to feed on the vegetation below.  They are extremely shy and will quickly move away from any human presence.  

My wife was fortunate this year to locate a spot where they were close in to shore, with good lighting, and apparently unfazed by our presence.

To add to the difficulties, their dark forms against a reflective surface make getting a proper exposure challenging.  Here, we can see the dark eyes against the dark feathers of the face while the water is not over-exposed.  In several years of trying, this is the first time I feel satisfied with a photograph of the harlequin.