Monday, January 6, 2014

Hooded Mergansers

Double D and I went out to look for more bird species to add to our birding list the last Sunday of December. Once again, we didn't get what we were looking for, but came upon several species of ducks we had not seen before, such as the Hooded Merganser below.

Hooded Mergansers are diving ducks, looking mostly for crawfish, fish, and other food. Mergansers can actually change the refractive properties of their eyes to better spot prey underwater. They also use their transparent third eyelid or nictitating membrane like a pair of goggles to protect their eyes while underwater. Their feet are set too far back to make walking comfortable, but it's very useful for diving.




What happened to your mate? This one's taken sistah.

Dangit, where'd my mate go?
"Until we extend our circle of compassion to include every living creature we cannot enjoy 'World Peace'."
Albert Schweitzer

Linking up with I'd Rather B Birdin'. Thanks, Anni so much!!

35 comments:

Ela said...

How wonderful ducks, they have beautiful hats. Really amazing pictures on the water.
Greetings

Suzan said...

Never seen these before! Pretty!

Hootin Anni said...

Wonderful!!!
Y'know, I thought of you most of the afternoon yesterday, wondering if you got to photograph the Brown Booby!?!!!!

These hooded mergansers are awesome Gail. I love the one with the two 'looking at each other'.

Have a terrific Monday...
Anni @ I'd Rather B Birdin' and Hootin' Anni's.

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh Gail I LOVE coming here. Hug B

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Oh my gosh I had never seen a Hooded Merganser before. I love them!!

Judith @ Lavender Cottage said...

These are interesting looking water fowl, not common in our area.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i love those mohawks. neat do. ( :

EG CameraGirl said...

Oh, I do love hooded mergansers! Very nice photos!

Shug said...

I've never seen one of these before. They are adorable with that bouffant that adorns the top of their head. As always...love the captions.
Brrr it's cold outside...stay warm!

Linda at To Behold The Beauty said...

Oh, these are beautiful! I've seen mergansers here before, but never any like these. It's hard to photograph diving ducks. One minute they're there; the next minute they're gone...leaving the photographer feeling like that lone female merganser wondering where her mate went.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

I have never seen such a pretty duck.

Anonymous said...

Love that duck's hairdo! Great shots.

Evelyn S. said...

It fascinates me how different the male and female mergansers are! We have mergansers here....not sure of the type, but they are ones that eat the baby steelhead and salmon our state is working so hard to save! ;-)

hootnonny said...

Love the punk coiffure. (Oops, these words don't belong in the same sentence!

Ain't nature grand!

renae said...

Oh you silly girl! I guarantee you that wearing those red shoes or boots will attract more animals to your photos! I do! lol You are so dang fun. Thanks for your regular comments and blog love each day!!!!!!!!!!

renae said...

ooops, forgot to say that I LOVE how you get such awesome photos of swimming ducks, etc. The water looks fabulous and almost fake. So cool.

Karen said...

WOW! Remarkable captures Gail.

Melissa said...

Terrific shots. I love the brown reflection pattern with the ducks' colors!

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

These are beautiful ducks! I don't think I've ever seen any like them. You captured some great shots. I love the quote, too. :-)

Bas. said...

ze zijn ook ontzettend mooi.

Deanna said...

Love the pics, but they look like they went to the wrong hair-dresser.giggle and I do love that quote!!

Anonymous said...

What beauties!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

We saw our first hooded mergansers last spring near Lake Okechobee; I couldn't believe what I was seeing at first! Beautiful pictures... perfect portraits of the birds and then the soft swirly reflections. Love this post.

Anonymous said...

I am enjoying your birding lessons. I've never seen thE Merganser duck but I think he's pretty cool!

eileeninmd said...

The Hooded Mergansers are one of my favorites. Awesome photos!

TexWisGirl said...

you got some GREAT shots of these oddball beauties! love these!

Brian King said...

Gorgeous shots! We've got a lot of these guys at a nearby lake, but they tend to stay out in the center.

Jill Harrison said...

great pics!
Wishing you a happy 2014. Thanks for stopping by my blog this week.

Stewart M said...

Splendid pictures - we don't have any mergansers in Australia - used to be able to watch them in the UK.

Hope you can link up for Wild Bird Wednesday!

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

PS: I to rather like the calm the descends after Christmas and the New Year are over!

Rosemary Aubut said...

Love them! Great quote!

Stephanie said...

Oh wow, they are simply beautiful! And those eyes are stunning :) Thanks for sharing, sweet Gail!

Helma said...

Ohhhh ......... you're making me really jealous with these beautiful pictures of the diving ducks. So nice to see so wonderful and photographed. My sincere compliments!

Gemma Wiseman said...

Amazing profiles of these ducks. Each one highlights the incredible character in those "faces".

Unknown said...

Your diving duck photos look awesome. Love there eyes..

Hugs~

Donna said...

Such unique birds. I don't think I have ever seen them in person...