Long-tailed ducks are rapidly becoming my favorite waterfowl species so I
headed up to Semiahmoo yesterday (Sunday) in hopes of finding some there.
Last year there was one very cooperative drake in the marina at Blaine which
allowed me several close-up images. I arrived at about 8:00 AM and ended up
spending 7 hours on the deck behind the lodge enjoying and photographing the
ducks and other water birds that passed by or stopped to forage in front of
me. I was particularly entertained by some red-breasted mergansers which
caught several fish and put on a courtship show for me.



Out in the bay between Semiahmoo and Whiterock was a flock of long-tailed
ducks that numbered 26 ( difficult to count because they were diving
repeatedly). In between dives the males courted the females and you could
hear their distinctive calls despite the distance. I waited and waited for
them to venture toward me but they seemed destined to stay in the middle of
the bay. They were flushed a few times by passing boats which allowed me to
get some flight shots, although distant. At last one pair came close enough
for reasonable close shots.



You can find the images in the last uploads album of my website. Other
images from that day are also up and I have a few more to go through.



I would love to go out in a boat to get some close-up flight shots of these
gorgeous little ducks ( I don't have a boat and I don't know any "boat
people"). I am open to suggestions and / or connections that anyone might
have.



Bob Kothenbeutel

Woodinville



www.photos.rlkimages.com