Buffleheads are North America's smallest (and arguably, cutest) ducks.   Males (top) have beautifully irridescent black and white heads; females are less flamboyant but still have a flashy white cheek (below).   Buffleheads breed on northern lakes and winter farther south.   These buffleheads were busily feeding in the tidal ponds at Bolsa Chica wetlands in coastal Orange County, California (upper two; second row from bottom), on Mission May in San Diego, CA (below, left and flapping female on water), near Palo Alto, California (bottom), and on inland ponds in San Diego County (others).

A distant view of a female bufflehead with her ducklings can be found at the extreme bottom of the page.   She was caring for a brood of at least sixteen ducklings (I don't know whether they were all hers) in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba.   The ducklings were actively swimming and diving for their food.

• Canon 10D, 1D Mk. II, 1D3, 1D4, or 7D2; 500 mm IS lens plus 1.4X or 2X converter or 800 mm lens, some with fill-in flash (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016)