ruddy duck confrontation

While trying to get a shot of a Ruddy making bubbles, I noticed two males facing each other. I was not really ready for the action which was over in a flash. I was able to get focus for the first couple of frames but lost it while trying to zoom out, so I was hesitant to post this as it was the sequence of the action that I was trying toshow, but with the missing frames it is not as effective as it could have been.

 

The Ruddy on the left is the one I consider the challenger as it took a very low stance in the water, but it was the one on the right who made the decisive lunge through the water at the other. The one on the left remained under water briefly, resurfaced and retreated, while the the victor confidently turned away and went back to making bubbles.

 

I don’t know what happens under the water, but I suppose they collide, at least that is what appears to happen in my blurred frames...for certain lots of water splashes when they meet.

 

Magnified view is pretty much needed to see any kind of detail in the smaller images.

 

My proclaimed victor is shown at the bottom, and tomorrow I will post one of the ladies they were trying to impress.

 

 

Done