Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Courting Buffleheads

 Male Bufflehead

Mid December and no ice. Four Bufflehead ducks were swimming amongst  the docks at the yacht club in Whitby Harbour - three males and one female. The males were showing off, trying their best to impress the female.

Female Bufflehead

For most of the time I was hidden behind some dead weeds, standing very still so they didn't notice I was there. Unfortunately the weeds were often between them and me, but every once in a while they  came into my lens's view.

3 males, 1 female

After a few minutes they moved into deeper water. The males appear to be disinterested in the female here...but it's not true. On the right one male is chasing one of the other males away.

I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

35 comments:

  1. Muito belas estas fotografias.
    Um abraço e continuação de uma boa semana.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a beautiful creature that Bufflehead is, Tina. Great captures. Thanks for sharing. Greetings, Jo

    ReplyDelete
  3. It's a complicated business courting! 'Bufflehead'.. made me smile, sounds more like a term of endearment than a name :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hello, the male Bufflehead is a beauty! Great sighting and photos. Happy Tuesday, have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  5. It hasn't been cold here either. I think the plants and animals are confused! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. They're cute

    'Bufflehead'...interesting name

    ReplyDelete
  7. Pretty birds. I kept imagining a picture of you standing still in the weeds though. Someone should have captured that shot, LOL!

    ReplyDelete
  8. That lady bufflehead should have been very impressed that three handsome gentlemen were courting her!

    ReplyDelete
  9. The males are always on the lookout for a nice female - and that is not only the ducks!

    ReplyDelete
  10. The male Bufflehead is a pretty bird. I wonder which male won her heart.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Gorgeous shots of these beautiful birds. Amazing no snow yet!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Those guys are so cute!! Great shots too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Cute little ducks, and great reflections! The water looks so blue!

    ReplyDelete
  14. It's hard to be dashing and debonair when you're called "Bufflehead" but they seem to be doing their best.

    ReplyDelete
  15. They are here [Marin CA] too! I'll do my bufflehead post and link up!




    Warm ALOHA,
    ComfortSpiral

    ReplyDelete
  16. Pretty near the birds ave ;-)
    Céline & Philippe

    ReplyDelete
  17. the first word that pops in my head is 'darling' i think they are just darling. to cute for words. the second one looks like he is smiling at me

    ReplyDelete
  18. Love the Buffleheads and the dappled waves on blue water.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Love Buffleheads...they are so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Always interesting to see waterfowl...I do not know many of them. And for the life of me, cannot seem to retain the ones others show. Maybe it would be easier if I saw them myself...

    ReplyDelete
  21. Watching duck courtship can be fascinating.Glad you were able to get good pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  22. They look like they are forever smiling

    ReplyDelete
  23. They're actually pretty well behaved for courting ducks! I've seen some X rated behavior from local mallards when we lived on the Lake. Your buffleheads are very handsome duck!

    ReplyDelete
  24. That is a really tricky duck to get photos of.....I'm not sure if it's the coloring or not but every time I try, they almost certainly blur! I think the day has to be overcast for a decent pic. Great captures!

    ReplyDelete
  25. We've been unusually warm here too. Lovely captures of the birds.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks for visiting my little corner of the world. I hope you enjoyed your stay here. Please leave a comment before you leave so I can visit your blog.