Blue-winged Teal -Life List
/Blue-winged Teal are very unusual to see in Virginia, they usually migrate much further south but a small group has made Dutch Gap Conservation Area in Chester VA their winter home. They have been maintaining a distance from the many, many birders who have flocked to DGCA to see them making it hard to get photographs but on this particular later morning I was lucky enough to see this beautiful female sunning, eating and swimming right off-shore near pier #1.
Dutch Gap Conservation Area, Chester VA
Olympus OMD-EM1X, Olympus 100-400 lens + MC-14
Gadwall in Flight
/Captured these Gadwalls in flight last week. I always have always thought that they are beautiful to watch.
The second photo you may notice has a slight blur in the back right corner. That is actually a plane in the far distance either approaching or departing Richmond Airport. I didn’t plan it, but always like to see a contrast of stories in a photo like this.. ✈️
Dutch Gap Conservation Area, Chester VA
Olympus OMD-EM1X, Olympus 100-400 lens + MC-14
Proud Male Mallard
/Such calm ducks Mallards are, until you get in their space or near there off-spring then it is all out war. This handsome one was sitting on the shore watching his lady and I assume offspring swimming along the pond at Midlothian Mines Park as you can see in a very proud stance. I was a far enough distance away not to disturb his moment of pride but close enough to get this portrait without needing to crop.
This @getolympus, on this camera is giving off some great detail and sharpness. Pretty happy with the combo.
Olympus OMD-EM1X, 100-400 Olympus lens.
Mystery Duck with Friends
/Mystery Duck still hanging around Echo Lake, Henrico VA with the French geese