I have been photographing Hooded Mergansers for the past ten or more years, almost always at Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge. For the past two years I either did not see them, or they were too far away to get decent images. This year they did not disappoint.
Hooded Mergansers is a small bird with visible and beautiful, very noticeable hood or crest, especially on the males. Last week a bunch of them were frolicking openly as high tide began filling the marshes with ocean water, fish, crustaceans, mollusks and other of their preferred foods.
Julie@frogpondfarm said:
These are wonderful …. Merry Christmas! 🎄
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Julie! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
LikeLiked by 1 person
photographyartplus said:
Woww so beautiful, wonderful captures Hien! Lucky you !
Merry Christmas!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you Marcela! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tra Italia e Finlandia said:
Pretty and unique. Great captures! 👏
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thanks Luisella! You are right, Hooded Mergansers are unique to North America.
LikeLiked by 1 person
2bcreativeblog said:
Love your photos ❤️ I like bird watching 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you! Bird watching is a noble pastime.
LikeLike
T. W. Dittmer said:
Great photos, Hien, of beautiful birds. I like watching ducks on the water, especially when they dive for something.
LikeLiked by 2 people
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you, Tim! On some rare occasions I saw ducks diving and coming up with something in their beaks. Not with these Hooded Mergansers. I think they eat what they catch under water before coming up for air.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Liz Gauffreau said:
I love how your photos captured the interaction between the male and the female.
LikeLiked by 3 people
neihtn2012 said:
Thanks, Liz! They looked funny, the male trying to get far away from the female.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Liz Gauffreau said:
You’re welcome, Hien.
LikeLike
Jet Eliot said:
I can never get enough of the mergansers, Hien, so seeing these hooded mergansers was a real treat. They are often so far out on the water. Lovely photos of this very unique-looking bird.
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thank you, Jet! For some reason, these Hooded Mergansers were not too far from the road. Maybe be fish and other food were coming in with the tide.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eliza Waters said:
Handsome birds, great captures!
LikeLiked by 1 person
neihtn2012 said:
Thanks, Eliza! I’m glad I can see and photograph them again after two years!
LikeLiked by 1 person