Favorite duck to photograph this time of year as all the others start to molt and lose color. Withe the bright blue bill and “horns” flared up they are a duck with a lot of personality. Put my floating blind on the water today and chased them around. Hope you enjoy.

They are interesting. I have a drake mounted, but it's in its winter plumage.

Would you care to post a picture of your floating blind?

I will do that tomorrow, it’s nothing fancy just something I built.

We like home made stuff, I can't wait to see it.......jk

The first one looks like it’s going to torpedo you.

Outstanding, as usual!

Really nice pics...great action photos.

Thank you for sharing with us , I've seen some new to me ducks now ha ha keep up the good work !

Great shots! I've had ruddies follow me thru the cattails when checking traps.

Pics of my homemade blind several people asked about. It’s about 6ft long and weighs around 55lbs. Made with 4” white styrofoam and laminated with 1/4 sheeting.
Cattle panels cut down make the frame then covered with camo fabric with Fastgrass zip tied to frame. I also will run bungee cords around it and cut fresh vegetation to stuff in and match the surrounding better if chasing wary critters.
Made it bigger then needs to be but wanted it to float with all my weight on it in case I step into deep water were I can’t touch.
Holler if you have any questions.

Pics of inside with gimbal head and camera attached. Advantage of this setup is not only are you hidden well but can also get the low angles on the water that a photographer wants.

That’s pretty cool! Never had an encounter with a ruddy, and learned something new with the horns. The only ducks still around here this time of year are a few wood ducks

Love those stubby cute ducks, Tray. Thick necks....the little quarter horses of the duck world

Always like to get that dusty blue tone in art, and that deep red brown auburn body. of the bill just right when I see them.

Thank you for sharing, Wilson Jr.

That's a neat contraption to get close to birds for some good photography.

I believe ruddy ducks were also known as "dollar ducks". Back in the market hunting days duck meat went for $1/pound and a plucked ruddy carcass would usually weigh right around a pound. At least I'm pretty sure I read that at one time..

Interesting blind...how did you laminate with the 1/4" panels, glue?

There are strips of 1x4s on the inside and outside edges it’s screwed into, construction adhesive also between the foam and 1/4” boards.

Thank you..

Cool little ducks, with they looked like that in the fall.

Beautiful pictures Tray-like exceptional! We had a lot of those Ruddies hatch in our house incubator years ago-well actually thousands of wild ducklings growing up, goslings and cygnets as well. The ruddy ducklings were by far the hardest to raise-lots of mortality. Super cute ducklings though. Used to drive to airport and pick crates of eggs and sometimes ducklings( they would hatch on the flight sometimes) for my mother-she was an ornithologist-spend 40 years studying ducks geese and swans from all over north america and beyond. Nice to see such beautiful photos from you!

thanks always enjoy your pic,