Hooded Merganser
It might be my new favorite bird. I don't think I have ever seen Hooded Mergansers up close. Well, I wasn't really that close. They were swimming in the river, and I was in my car parked on the road. With the tele-extender on my camera lens I was able to get some fairly close shots. There must have been about a dozen mergansers within a short stretch of the river. The males are very interesting as they have a vertical fan-shaped white crest which can be raised for display or lowered. They were moving constantly, swimming up and down the river. Sometimes a group of males, a male and female together, or a solitary male just swimming along. I had fun watching one for several minutes as it tried to get a fish that seemed just a little too big in to his mouth. He would flip it up in the air, usually catching it sideways and then trying again.
I think he finally did swallow it whole. I saw the Hooded mergansers several times over the course of a few days. Yesterday, I drove a little farther down the river and also saw some Common Mergansers, but didn't get any pictures.
You can see more duck photos here, and a few below.
I think he finally did swallow it whole. I saw the Hooded mergansers several times over the course of a few days. Yesterday, I drove a little farther down the river and also saw some Common Mergansers, but didn't get any pictures.
You can see more duck photos here, and a few below.
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