Of all the ducks that occur in North Carolina, I think wood Ducks are the most striking. Some ducks are cute, like Bufflehead, and some are handsome, like Pintails, but Wood Ducks are just striking. Bold and beautiful colors, a prominent crest, and brilliant iridescence.

In spring, Wood Ducks are deep the swamp forests here in southern North Carolina. Like most waterfowl, they're wary so photographing them requires being in a blind well before sunrise. That's the only way to be in their world without being detected. It's dark beneath the canopy of cypress and hardwoods. I was looking for any shaft of light or reflection to photograph the birds against the dark water.