Tag: mad duck

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Northern Harrier Asks: “Are you finished?” Pt. Reyes National Seashore

Photo of a male northern harrier.
What are YOU looking at?

This male northern harrier looks like he’s getting fed up with something — maybe me.  Birds seem to look that way sometimes.  It reminds me of the mad duck image I posted here.   Maybe it’s more like:  “Oh no, not you again.”  It’s funny, herbivores often look like they are smiling.  See my post on the bison calf below.  Also, the cow elk here.  Carnivores seem to have more of a poker face, but even with them I’ve seen what looked like a smile.  I’m thinking of this one wolf that seemed to be smiling.  See this link.  Of course, I should mention the always-smiling porpoises and dolphins.  And then there are the chimpanzees who not only smile, but laugh.  Maybe I need to spend more time doing landscape photography.

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Mad Duck; Golden Gate Park, San Francisco

Photo of ring-necked duck.
“Back-off Bud.”

I was photographing ducks at a pond in Golden Gate Park last spring when this ring-necked drake came swimming toward me.  The drakes were pursuing females and I guess he didn’t like me around.  He looked mad and I felt like he was saying “back off buster.”   I gave him some more space and he went about his business.

This photo reminds me of a photo that a friend of mine from the 1970s took of a bluebird that looked like it was mad.   My friend’s name is Michael L. Smith and his mad bluebird photo made Mike a millionaire.  Here is a link about Mike and his famous photo.  I don’t think my mad duck is going to make me a millionaire, but one can dream.  To purchase a print of this image click here.