Female Merganser

This lovely lady popped right out of the water in front of me. She was not the least bit timid around us.

Egret in Flight

Egret flying over Dutch Gap Conservation area

Merganser Couple

First visit to Huntley Meadow Park was fantastic and will definitely be visiting again. Greeted by these two just at the start of the first pond let me know it was going to be a great day!

Female Mallard

Portrait of Female Mallard just after foraging along the lake.
Three Lakes Park, Richmond VA

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

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.