Bufflehead

Bufflehead drake and two hens swimming among a dozen other ducks, most of which are Gadwalls.
Bufflehead, Cement Creek Reservoir, Fort Worth, TX, December 31, 2021
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-2000; f/6.3; 1/1600 sec.

This page is for the Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola). My first photographic evidence of a Bufflehead occurred on December 31, 2021 at Cement Creek Reservoir, Fort Worth, TX. This photograph is also the best image I have of Bufflehead. The small reservoir at the NE end of Meachum Airport must have had 250 ducks on it. There is basically no cover to allow a close approach so the photo is from somewhere around 150 yards away. There were probably a half dozen Buffleheads among the ducks and other waterfowl.

The following photographs are the best representative images from different dates and locations than my species representative example.

Seven Bufflehead ducks swimming near the far shore.
Bufflehead, Village Creek, Arlington, TX, January 17, 2022
Canon EOS 5DS R with Tamron 150-600 mm lens; 600 mm; ISO-2000; f/6.3; 1/1000 sec.
Two Bufflehead ducks fling overhead.
Bufflehead, Bitter Lake NWR, Roswell, NM, November 9, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-200; f/10; 1/800 sec. -0.7 exposure bias.
Two Bufflehead ducks swimming on water that is choppy due to the wind. They are near the far shore.
Bufflehead, Bitter Lake NWR, Roswell, NM, November 9, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/11; 1/800 sec. +0.3 exposure bias.
Bufflehead swimming near some water grasses.
Bufflehead, Bosque del Apache NWR, San Antonio, NM, November 10, 2022
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-1000; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
Four Bufflehead ducks swimming nearby.
Bufflehead, Apopka Wildlife Drive, Apopka, FL December 3, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700mm; ISO-320; f/11; 1/800 sec.
Three Bufflehead ducks swimming nearby. One is flapping its wings.
Bufflehead, Apopka Wildlife Drive, Apopka, FL December 3, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700mm; ISO-320; f/11; 1/800 sec.
Bufflehead swimming in the water nearby.
Bufflehead, Hagerman NWR, Sherman, TX, December 26, 2023
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-250; f/11; 1/500 sec.
Bufflehead duck swimming a short distance away in the middle of the water.
Bufflehead, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 10, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-51,200; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Bufflehead swimming away from the camera and looking to its right side.
Bufflehead, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-1000; f/11; 1/800 sec.
Bufflehead swimming nearby.
Bufflehead, Parker River NWR, Plum Island, MA, January 11, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-800; f/10; 1/800 sec.
Bufflehead swimming nearby.
Bufflehead, Gooseberry Island, Westport, MA, January 12, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-500; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
Bufflehead swimming nearby.
Bufflehead, Gooseberry Island, Westport, MA, January 12, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/11; 1/1000 sec.
Bufflehead swimming nearby, displaying to attract a mate..
Bufflehead, Gooseberry Island, Westport, MA, January 12, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens with 1.4x Teleconverter; 700 mm; ISO-400; f/10; 1/1000 sec.
Fifteen Bufflehead ducks swimming in a line.
Bufflehead, Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Austwell, TX, February 24, 2024
Canon EOS R5 with Canon 100-500 mm L-series lens; 700 mm; ISO-640; f/10; 1/1250 sec.