Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis. Port of Vardø, Varanger, Norway.
Photographer: Martin Eschholz, Germany. Category: Garden and Urban Birds. BRONZE AWARD WINNER.
Photographer's Story: ‘White everywhere. That is the first impression when visiting the Varanger Peninsula in the Arctic north of Norway in winter. But a surprisingly amount of colour can be found too, especially in the region's various harbours. The port of Vardø is a working fishing harbour attracting several species of wintering sea ducks. One of the most fascinating is the Long-tailed Duck and at first glance it looks too feebly built to survive in the arctic. But the reality is that it can cope perfectly. A bit of extra food like offal from a fish factory comes in handy and that is the reason these birds swim between the harbour's colourful reflections.’
Canon EOS 7D MkII with Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens and 2x converter. 400mm focal length; 1/800 second; f/9; ISO 1,600. Handheld.
