Thanks to Shane Smith, neighbor, friend, and budding bird photographer, I photographed this drake Hooded Merganser two days ago at one of our local ponds. Shane texted me to let me know that the hooded mergansers were at the pond after he found them there. Thanks, Shane!
Drake Hooded Merganser on an urban pond – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f8, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I had left the pond only minutes before. The Hooded Mergansers weren’t there while I was scoping the pond out. When I was driving home, Shane and I stopped to talk briefly, while he was heading down to the ponds with his son, Kadence. I was only home a few minutes when Shane texted about the four mergansers he found, so I gathered my gear and drove back down to the pond.
And the lesson to be learned here?
In just a few minutes, new birds can arrive anywhere; after all, they do have wings and can fly.
When I was at the pond, I trudged through the snow to take photos of the mergansers. I didn’t have the best light angle, but I was delighted to see and photograph the four striking, crested diving ducks. Ducks that I only see here during the coldest months of the year.
Urban drake Hooded Merganser – Nikon D500, tripod mounted, f8, 1/800, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
The temperature was frigid, and I knew I could only stay with the Hooded Mergansers that afternoon for a few minutes.
I have Raynaud’s Syndrome, an auto immune disorder, which affects my hands and feet in cold weather. My hands were already hurting from my exposure earlier when I was photographing the Ring-billed Gull I shared yesterday.
I photographed the Hooded Mergansers for nine minutes and then hauled up my gear back to my Jeep to head home. Even though I would have liked to have stayed with the mergansers longer and would have enjoyed a better light angle, I was happy with some of the images I took.
Parental Craziness
I hope the mergansers stick around so I can photograph them again. The mergansers might have left because a little birdie told me that a family, husband, wife, and two children, were throwing snowballs at all the ducks on that pond yesterday afternoon.
What those parents were teaching their children yesterday afternoon was flat out wrong.
I’m glad I wasn’t there to witness their cruelty. The birds at the pond don’t need any added stress during the harshest months of the year.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Hooded Merganser photos plus facts and information about this species.
Hi Mia, Peace flooded in when I looked at your two images. Ahhhh, so very lovely. Soothing. I eagerly seek out your emails-both for the photos and your words. Yes, despite all, life IS good. I love that regular reminder.
Thank you for sharing! Good luck with your Reynauds.—Linda
What a dude! Some of the goofy kids around here would pay a ton of money to have a top-knot like that. Wonderful pics. Along with the magnificently detailed Merganser…the color and movement in the water you captured is spectacular. Thanks Mia.
The fact of the disease that causes you such pain never stopping you from the incredible photographs you create that gives us all a better birds eye view than we could ever have without you, makes me want to thank you all the more for your dedication and service to bringing the incredibly varied beauty of God’s creatures in the sanctuary of nature to our eyes as we sit safely and comfortably inside and you do all the ‘work.’ Thank you Mia. May your pain be lessened and your heart be full.
Those parents need to get up close and personal with a “clue-by-four.” 🤬 Love seeing more hood positions — such pretty little ducks. 💜
The Hooded Merganser is beautiful. I hope you didn’t pay too dearly for your time with him.
Parenting like that gives me the shudders – and goes some way to explain some things that shouldn’t be happening.
Beautiful image with the crest up. I had a hard time in the morning, there was mist rising from the water surface causing soft focus.
Beautiful shots of these regal birds. I always think of ancient Egyptian queens when I see them. —Jeri S.