Here is what a lot of patience and good glass can achieve! (Canon 70-200 F2.8L review.)
I was observing and photographing a family of ducks at Bronte Harbor in Oakville, Ontario going in and out of the water.
It took a couple of hours until the mama-duck was at the perfect spot, next to the little one, watching it shaking-off water.
The beautiful feather texture on the adult duck is courtesy of a shot of sync flash.