Very Scittish Buffelheads

Would not come close, large crops.

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/24aV​zjb

IMAGE LINK: https://flic.kr/p/FAn7​W4

We just went looking today for these guys.

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They really are beautiful little divers.

I love how when you shoot them in sunlight, like you did, you can see purple and green iridescence on the plumage of their heads. . On overcast days, all of that vibrant color disappears.


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Thanks, I have lots of them turned just the wrong way and they look black and white. I had to wait till they faced the right way. The sun kept going behind clouds which didn't help much.

tombrewer wrote in post #18588085
Thanks, I have lots of them turned just the wrong way and they look black and white. I had to wait till they faced the right way. The sun kept going behind clouds which didn't help much.

I definitely know what you mean, they are REALLY hard to shoot! It took me a long time to be able to shoot even one that was decent.

Here's something that I found out through time, it works, or at least helps with most ALL of the diving birds that I have shot, Hooded Mergansers, Buffleheads, and most any Grebe.
As soon as one goes under, start counting, 'usually' they will stay under for approximately 16 seconds or so, (on average) so if that particular bird is under for that amount, you can expect it to continue with the same amount each time. Usually they will ALL go under after the first one dives, especially Mergansers.
It all can depend on a lot of other things too, availability of fish and depth, etc.

The reason I mention this is, if you want a shot of them coming up with water all over them, use this method, it works.
The other reason I use this is if they know I am there, (they always do!) I can always move closer to them (possibly) and get a lot better shot. It doesn't bother them at all, they may look startled some, but when do they not when they see you... heheh
I shot some every year at a park where the bank is sloped, I would have to stay over a hundred feet (or more) away from them at first, then as they go down I will move slowly closer. As they would dive down I would actually run down to the edge of the bank and be somewhere around 50 feet or so, a LOT closer than I would normally get.

I hope this helps some, they are already gone from where I am now, so I can't even use it.