Hooded Merganser at Quiet Waters Park

The sky was cloudy with fog at dawn, but it was rapidly clearing by 8:00, and I went to Thomas Point to see if the ducks had returned in any numbers. They hadn’t. A couple of Swans flew over, and a few Scaup and Bufflehead were rafted, but it didn’t look promising.
I went to nearby Quiet Waters and did much better.

Tundra Swan

Tundra Swans are large, beautiful birds.

Bufflehead

It’s fun to try catching these ducks in flight.

Red Breasted Merganser

I saw this Red Breasted Merganser at a distance, and when I walked up for a closer shot, he had disappeared.

Bufflehead

This Bufflehead hen was travelling with her mate and a raft of Lesser Scaup.

Robin

A large flock of Robins was foraging on the water’s edge.

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser (Hen)

Hooded Merganser (Hen)

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

I’ve been taking a regular route through the woods at Quiet Waters in order to see more ducks. I saw this Hooded Merganser and his mates at a distance, and was able to get closer by walking an extra quarter mile.

Hooded Merganser

Hooded Merganser

Takeoff is best described as, “Explosive.”

Hooded Merganser

When these Hooded Mergansers weren’t actively feeding, they were grooming.

Great Blue Heron

This Great Blue Heron flew into the scene as I was photographing the Mergansers.