Hooded Merganser Joy

I always swing by a local retention pond after my bird banding to check if there are any Hooded Mergansers swimming about. They prefer a certain pond every year and sometimes they make good subjects. Sometimes they want nothing to do with me and retreat to the underside of a parking structure. Today they didn't mind my being there.



In the past, my shots have been rather hit or miss. Could be raining. Could be getting there when the light is too harsh. A lot of times they are just constantly moving and my shots seem too soft for me. For whatever reason today my shots were spot on.



I ended up with a ton of shots I liked and I had to just narrow down choices for this selection. I will probably go back to revisit the gallery again in a while but for now I needed to stop. The males were giving me a lot of nice poses I enjoy.



The female Hooded Mergansers were cruising a little closer to me and would just stare after coming up from a dive for food.



Then the light would strengthen just a bit more and light up their crest.



Such a cute, coy looking lady.



I always think the eyes on these birds ends up a little blurry. Drives me crazy. The rest of the shot is in focus.



Now I wonder if since Hooded Mergansers are divers that perhaps it is a nictitating eyelid like sharks. It is "a transparent (or translucent) third eyelid present in some animals that can be drawn across the eye for protection". Would explain it to me.



A final shot of two females drifting past.



I could sit with the Hooded Mergansers all day but I had other things to do. Like wash bug spray off of me. And bird poop. Happens when banding birds.

Hooded Mergansers are Back

I never miss a chance to drive through the Maitland Center Parkway complex after my Sunday banding sessions. Mainly it is to keep an eye out for the return of the wintering Hooded Mergansers. Well, today was the day! Six birds in all but they made a hasty retreat under the parking structure as I began to take photos. The light wasn't that forgiving, anyway. There will be plenty of opportunities for shots for a few more months.



As I began to pull away I heard the grunting of the Anhinga that likes to sun next to the pond. It stuck its head out for a look and scold. Who can pass up that close-up...?



A nice way to end the day.

More Hooded Merganser Fun

Time to check out the Hooded Mergansers again on the way home. They are only here a relatively short period and for some reason I still get a lot of enjoyment of watching and photographing them. They weren't doing all the mating rituals like they were last visit but were nice and close just swimming around like this female.



Several males were still around, as well.



I love all the different shapes these bird can make with their head feathers. From full circles to medium squared-off tabs.



The females are usually seen diving for food often and their head feathers are usually flat but even they can get that styled up round look.



How about a nice dart-shaped triangle?



The Hooded Merganser will be heading out sooner than I like to think about. For now, I can get the pleasure of hanging out with these amazing divers for a little while every Sunday.



Had some better lighting today. A lot of rain in the past and forecast for the near future. Wonder how they look with drops all of the surface. Hmmm...

Hooded Merganser Flock

Once our banding sessions are done this time of year I take a detour through Maitland Center to see if I can find Hooded Mergansers in the retention ponds. They arrive in small numbers earlier but by now there are dozens of them feeding and swimming between ponds. They also begin to perform courtship displays now and I got lucky to be there at the right time today.

Not going to make too many comments since I have so many shots but will elaborate about some images. Just enjoy the views. I always seem to get them in this formation under cloudy skies but I love these little divers. We begin with a female.



Next, a few male portraits.









Another female checks out the suitors around her.



A view of a male more head-on showing how thin they can appear.



Not sleeping. Just fluffing out those head feathers.



How about a little tail feather crown?







The tension is building...



Males begin to size one another up.





Now, the displays start! Head wagging and swimming toward each other in signs of supremacy.



My favorite part is when they paddle their feet and rare up out of the water. The female up front is even getting into the action!



One male stretches his neck toward his rival.



Another tilt to the skies.



Then relax.



Puff up that belly and crest.



Now thrust!



Sometimes you can look cool only so long until the wind ruins your perfect quaff.



Finally, a winning male follows a female to pair up.



A great half-hour hanging out with the Mergansers. I should have a few more weeks to get shots. Can't wait!

Male Hooded Merganser

Another Sunday, another stop on the way home to check on the Hooded Mergansers. The light wasn't great but I got a least one shot of a male heading toward the center of the pond.



See you next week, my friend.

More Hooded Mergansers Returning

I stopped by the retention pond after banding again. Surprise. I do it almost every week in the Winter. More Hooded Mergansers are in the pond now but it was a little overcast. At least I had one small flock near the car bridge.



Most of them retreated to the opposite side of the pond but one stopped in front of me and seemed to just stare.



A short time later I figured out why he was sticking to the spot. A female emerged from under the bridge to join him. They glided side by side to mingle with the rest of the birds.



Up on the parking level was a collection of waders. I couldn't get the Great Egret in the photo but the Little Blue Heron and White Ibis were strolling the wall as friends.



I will be back to check again next week. Maybe the light will be better.

Friday Cruising

The Hooded Mergansers that were out at the retention pond have been rather absent from the roadside and I haven't stopped by to get a closer look for a while. Today, I swung through the church parking lot to see if anything was in the smaller pond by the parking lot. To my surprise, there was a large flock of them in this tiny pond. First time I have seen them in there.



The Hooded Mergansers were swimming from side to side and it was fun to see them dive in groups...



...and then rise to make the next pass. I didn't want to spook them too much so I kept my distance and moved along to the other lakes.



Over at Lake Lancaster, there were several warblers (Palms) and I was going to give up on anything else until I heard a knocking in an oak. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was really focused on a certain spot in the branches and I was glad it really didn't mind me getting out of the van to get a closer shot.



I made my loop through the cemetery on the way home and saw another photographer parked and trying to get some sort of shot. I pulled ahead and looked left to see and hear a Bald Eagle zooming in toward the nest tree.



It actually seemed to be more interested in getting to its usual spot not far away but someone else was in the way. A Red-tailed Hawk was defiantly staying put in the eagle's daily perch.



I have seen the Red-tail pair more often around the Bald Eagle nest. Wonder if they are trying to move in or get at any young that might already be there. Time will tell.