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#hoodedmerganser

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MikeF

Some pics from a quick bike ride between Willow Pond and Grant Park in Hewlett, NY, about 1/4 mile from each other. The juvie Bald Eagle actually made its appearance at Willow, then circled over Grant. The egret at Willow looked up when the eagle did its fairly close flyover, but it was surprising that the ducks and geese didn't panic.
11.27.24.
#nature #NaturePhotography #birds #Wildlife #naturecommunity #photography #BirdsOfMastodon #birdphotography #birding #HoodedMerganser #BaldEagle #GreatEgret #WhiteThroatedSparrow

Juvenile Bald Eagle in flight. Grant Park, NY.
Great Heron perching on brush along Willow Pond, NY
Hooded Merganser couple facing each other on Willow Pond, NY.
White=throated Sparrow foraging on grass at Grant Park, NY.
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Swede’s Photographs

Ducks in a Row

Actually, these hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) in a column, but you get the meaning. I took this during a trip to Georgia, last Thanksgiving (2023) and I'm looking forward to seeing them again this year.

You know, the photographs that I post here are not quite a vivid as the same photographs that I post at my pixel's gallery, because here, I reduce the size of the photos and usually make a slight reduction in the quality of the photos to make them easier to load.

Take a look:

swede1952-photographs.pixels.c

"The image shows a peaceful scene of four hooded mergansers swimming from left to right in a calm body of water. The water has gentle ripples and reflects a golden hue from the surrounding trees or vegetation. Leading the group is a male duck with striking black and white feathers and a large white crest on his head. Following him is another male with similar striking plumage. Bringing up the rear are two females, identifiable by their more subdued brownish-grey plumage and smaller crests. This formation captures the social behavior of these ducks, possibly foraging or migrating together." - Copilot
#photo#photography#photographer
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Swede’s Photographs

Merganser Parade

I saw these hooded mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) swimming in a small pond, at Albany, Georgia. I was thinking about the saying get your ducks in a row. It's just that when we see them lined up, they are usually in a column.

"Hooded Mergansers find their prey underwater by sight. They can actually change the refractive properties of their eyes to improve their underwater vision. In addition, they have an extra eyelid, called a “nictitating membrane,” which is transparent and helps protect the eye during swimming, like a pair of goggles." - allaboutbirds.org

In this photo there are three mergansers swimming from left to right in the brown water of a small pond. The lead male merganser leaves a wake and the other two mergansers, male and female, follow in his wake. I cans see the reflection of apartment buildings that are on one side of the pond. "Hooded Mergansers are small ducks with a thin bill and a fan-shaped, collapsible crest that makes the head look oversized and oblong. In flight, the wings are thin, and the tail is relatively long and rounded. Adult male Hooded Mergansers are black above, with a white breast and rich chestnut flanks. The black head has a large white patch that varies in size when the crest is raised or lowered but is always prominent. Females and immatures are gray and brown, with warm tawny-cinnamon tones on the head." - allaboutbirds.org
#photo#photography#photographer
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Swede’s Photographs

Bright Eys.

I took this photo of a male hooded merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) in Albany, Georgia at a small hidden pond. It's the only place I've seen these. I think they return to the same pond every fall.

"Hooded Mergansers are fairly common on small ponds and streams across their breeding range. In fall through spring, head to unfrozen lakes or shallow, protected saltwater bays and look for them mixed in flocks with other small divers like Bufflehead and Ruddy Ducks. Pay attention for flying ducks too—a fast series of truncated whistles from high overhead may signal the rapid wingbeats of a commuting merganser." - allaboutbirds.org

This merganser is swimming form left to right in brown sparkling water. His left side if visible to the camera. His eye is a fierce yellowish orange. His shiny black beak slops on top near the base and tapers to a round off point on the end. His face and neck are black a roundish crest of black feather rise high on his head, then crest pushes farther out behind his head forming a rounded sail of feathers In the center of sail is a large white mark. His back is black, but near his lifted fanned out tail are three white stripes running lengthwise. His lower body visible above the water is multicolored, with a white upper chest with black vertical stripes and a side of chestnut feathers. "Hooded Mergansers are small ducks with a thin bill and a fan-shaped, collapsible crest that makes the head look oversized and oblong. In flight, the wings are thin and the tail is relatively long and rounded. Adult male Hooded Mergansers are black above, with a white breast and rich chestnut flanks. The black head has a large white patch that varies in size when the crest is raised or lowered but is always prominent. Females and immatures are gray and brown, with warm tawny-cinnamon tones on the head." - allaboutbirds.org
#photo#photography#photographer
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