Hooded Mergansers are small ducks that are seen in the fall and winter at the Edwin B Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. The male ones have a prominent crest (hood) in black and white, making them stand out from other ducks. This year there seems to be many Hooded Mergansers, male and female, and I had no problem shooting the following photos.
Male Hooded Merganser.
Female Hooded Merganser.
Hooded Margansers. The male was just coming out of a dive.
As I was taking a shot, one Hooded Merganser decided to fly. I missed capturing that take-off.
Hooded Mergansers.
The following day, almost at the same place, I was chatting with a fellow photographer when a male Hooded Merganser decided to fly.
Male Hooded Merganser starting flight.
After about a minute, I saw him, accompanied by a female, flying overhead.
Hooded Mergansers flying.
Hooded Margansers flying.
They’re great-looking little ducks, aren’t they? I love seeing them, but those images in flight are special – in person, you never see those details, like the way the white on the male’s head sweeps up. Wonderful.
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That was the first time I was able to photograph them in flight. Uusually they are either too fast or too far, or both!
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Great images of one of my favorite species of ducks! I hope that they stick around until spring and that you’re able to watch and listen to their courting rituals.
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Thank you Jerry! There are more of them this year, so I will try to watch and listen to their courtship rituals as you said.
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Superb shots of a gorgeously striking duck!!
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Thank you Donna!
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I always think that hooded ducks like these look a bit crazy!!
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Ha, ha! Wait until you see one of their bad hair day photos!
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I love their stunning eyes and “hairdos” 🙂 These winter ducks are beautiful!
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When the wind messes with their hoods, it makes for some interesting images, “bad hair” days I guess. I have some that I may post of these days.
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Look forward to it! 🙂
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The male Hooded Merganser is so cute! Great captures of Hooded Margansers flying.
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These ducks are really among the cutest. Thank you Amy!
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Such distinctive markings, they are a handsome bird. I really like the capture of them flying.
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I am still learning to read their body language, in order to be able to capture them as they suddenly take off to the air.
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