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Got an opportunity to escape the house today, and delight in a morning visit with Nature. Found this Hooded Merganser busy diving for breakfast. Brought a Smile.
“Hooded” is something of an understatement for this extravagantly crested little duck. Adult males are a sight to behold, with sharp black-and-white patterns set off by chestnut flanks. Females get their own distinctive elegance from their cinnamon crest.
Hooded Mergansers are fairly common on small ponds and rivers, where they dive for fish, crayfish, and other food, seizing it in their thin, serrated bills. They 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.
Hooded Merganser ducklings leave their nest cavity within 24 hours of hatching. First, their mother checks the area around the nest and calls to the nestlings from ground level. From inside the nest, the little fluffballs scramble up to the entrance hole and then flutter to the ground, which may be 50 feet or more below them. In some cases, they have to walk half a mile or more with their mother to the nearest body of water.
The oldest recorded Hooded Merganser was a male and at least 14 years, 6 months old when he was shot in Mississippi in 2009. He had been banded in Minnesota in 1995.
This is Delightful Mrs. Merganser. She and her mate were busy flirting, while hunting for breakfast on a beautiful spring day.
Hooded Mergansers are fairly common on small ponds and rivers, where they dive for fish, crayfish, and other food. They 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.
Hooded Merganser ducklings leave their nest cavity within 24 hours of hatching. First, their mother checks the area around the nest and calls to the nestlings from ground level. From inside the nest, the little fluffballs scramble up to the entrance hole and then flutter to the ground, which may be 50 feet or more below them. In some cases, they have to walk half a mile or more with their mother to the nearest body of water.
The oldest recorded Hooded Merganser was a male and at least 14 years, 6 months old when he was shot in Mississippi in 2009. He had been banded in Minnesota in 1995.
(600 mm + TC 1.4, 1/1250 @ f/10, ISO 1000)
I was delighted by a morning visit with Nature. Found this male Hooded Merganser busy diving for breakfast.
Adult males are a sight to behold, with sharp black-and-white patterns set off by chestnut flanks. Females get their own distinctive elegance from their cinnamon crest.
Hooded Mergansers are fairly common on small ponds and rivers, where they dive for fish, crayfish, and other food, seizing it in their thin, serrated bills. They 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.
Hooded Merganser ducklings leave their nest cavity within 24 hours of hatching. First, their mother checks the area around the nest and calls to the nestlings from ground level. From inside the nest, the little fluffballs scramble up to the entrance hole and then flutter to the ground, which may be 50 feet or more below them. In some cases, they have to walk half a mile or more with their mother to the nearest body of water.
The oldest recorded Hooded Merganser was a male and at least 14 years, 6 months old when he was shot in Mississippi in 2009. He had been banded in Minnesota in 1995.
(200-600/6.3, 1/1250 @ f/10, ISO 2000)
Listening to Carole King today… another old Rocker that’s made beautiful music for a number of years.
Carole King is an American singer, songwriter, and musician who has been active since 1958. King has made 25 solo albums, the most successful being Tapestry, which held the record for most weeks at No. 1 by a female artist for more than 20 years.
Her record sales were estimated at more than 75 million copies worldwide. She has won four Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. She has been inducted twice into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a performer and songwriter.
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The Hooded Merganser:
Spotted this Female Hooded Merganser Strutting Her Stuff after finishing a breakfast of Frog Legs alfresco. The legs were still attached to the frog, so it took her awhile to dine, but she seems to have had a Happy Ending : )
Hooded Mergansers are fairly common on small ponds and rivers, where they dive for fish, crayfish, and other food, seizing it in their thin, serrated bills. They 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.
Hooded Merganser ducklings leave their nest cavity within 24 hours of hatching. First, their mother checks the area around the nest and calls to the nestlings from ground level. From inside the nest, the little fluffballs scramble up to the entrance hole and then flutter to the ground, which may be 50 feet or more below them. In some cases, they have to walk half a mile or more with their mother to the nearest body of water.
The oldest recorded Hooded Merganser was a male and at least 14 years, 6 months old when he was shot in Mississippi in 2009. He had been banded in Minnesota in 1995.
(Sony, 200-600 @ 600 mm, 1/400 @ f/6.3, ISO 5000, edited to taste)
Long-tailed Tits are just so gorgeous. Cotton-wool-on-a-stick, flying teaspoons, lots of names for them. Their ringing code is LOTTI so we call them Lotties which rather suits them, especially when you get a lotta lotties together - as you usually do.
An adorable juvenile Black-capped Chickadee! This little one took a nap in the sun on top of our Camas Basalt Rock. Once he was rested he flew to the feeders for a snack, a drink of water, and made several stops at trees and bushes, before he flew to a neighbors yard. It was fun to watch this little cutie trying to navigate his take offs and landings.
Two of the four swan cygnets at my local park every year I always go to see the cygnets my local swans have I mean who could resist them they are just floating fluff and the parents are just amazing the are just totally devoted to them ...
Many thanks for your visits guys
A juvenile Northern Hawk-Owl, hatched at the Wildlife park Eekholt in Northern Germany and just began to build its first adult-plumage. This cutie was heartmelting!
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Baby Mallard ducks in spring, what could be finer! What made this morning even more memorable were the two kids who stood next to me with their parents. The youngsters kept telling me over and over again how much they loved these tiny fluffballs and wished they could take them home.
Thank you for stopping by and for leaving me a comment! Have a great day and weekend!
It's still quite cold but sunny weather makes everybody happy and nobody enjoys it more than fluffball Tofu !:)
The little Sandhill Crane family has ventured out onto the trails at Sweetwater Wetlands Park. The chick is more mobile and active, which requires lots of food, especially the size of that little grub. Un fortunately I will no t be able to follow them for the next 6 weeks (the time it takes to heal a broken bone). By the time I'm able to get out again, that little fluffball will be fully feathered and learning to fly. Good luck little one!
Great news! Chicken Little was seen by another photographer who had observed the weird bump on its head. In his latest photograph the colt looks healthy and still growing! No more bump! Maybe that was an infected insect bite?
We saw these little swallow fledgelings this evening, waiting for their mom for food. It was so amazing to watch these adorable birds for a while.
Please respect my copyright. No use of the photo without my expressly permission.
And: I don't like Comment-Codes, "awards", or such groups. Because of that, Comment codes, "Awards" and invitations in such groups will be deleted. There is an Explanation at my profile.
So, if you want to say something about my photo, it will be really appreciated, no matter if it's about liking or some constructive criticism. Your own thoughts and words will mean much more to me than a universal-text.
Also please don't post pictures in the commenting-area. You could post them much better in your own photo stream. ;-D
Last year, we met this cuteness overload in the wildlife park. It had just left the nest and these were its first steps outside. It has been such an adorable moment to watch the little guy exploring the world.
Please respect my copyright.
Absolutely No use, no reposting at social media ore somewhere else of any of my photos without my expressly permission!
And: I don't like Comment-Codes, "awards", or such groups. Because of that, Comment codes, "Awards" and invitations in such groups will be deleted. There is an Explanation at my profile.
So, if you want to say something about my photo, it will be really appreciated, no matter if it's about liking or some constructive criticism. Your own thoughts and words will mean much more to me than a universal-text.
Also please don't post pictures in the commenting-area. You could post them much better in your own photo stream. ;-D
I spend some time out in the garden with Tofu this afternoon as it was quite warm. Tofu found himself a nice place in the shade and watched his feathered friends whereas I sat in the sunshine a read a book.
The fluffy Dragon is very active in the morning and as the weather is lovely right now he enjoys life outdoors. In the afternoon he always needs a nap to recharge his batteries and make sure to be ready for new adventures in the evening.
Flit takes a shot right to the heart reactor and doesn't even flinch, what are these intruders?
She adorns herself with the skull and furs of one of the last fluffballs that dared come to her shores.
This is war
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We had this lovely family in our garden for two days. So nice to see 4 little fluffballs walking around
As always, many thanks for taking the time to view, fave and comment. That's very much appreciated
Stay safe
This time of the year is so good for bird photography.. they are so busy that they don't realise the camera. Don't know what kind of tit this is - but what a cutie!
Please respect my copyright.
Absolutely No use, no reposting at social media ore somewhere else of any of my photos without my expressly permission!
And: I don't like Comment-Codes, "awards", or such groups. Because of that, Comment codes, "Awards" and invitations in such groups will be deleted. There is an Explanation at my profile.
So, if you want to say something about my photo, it will be really appreciated, no matter if it's about liking or some constructive criticism. Your own thoughts and words will mean much more to me than a universal-text.
Also please don't post pictures in the commenting-area. You could post them much better in your own photo stream. ;-D
In June I find Moorhens or Common Gallinules with babies at various stages of developement. The tiny fluffballs are fed by mom or dad or sometimes an older sibling from a previous brood.
We had a few short moments of sunshine today, not long enough to go anywhere and take photos but finally the opportunity to take some cat photos outdoors. Fynn enjoyed his outdoor time, he paid the neighbour's rabbits a visit, had a race against a squirrel (Fynn lost) and found all kinds of interesting debris in the garden, a result of the recent stormy weather.
Nothing special about this pic apart from the fact that it probably shows better than any other photo I have ever posted of the Dragon how hairy he really is.
It has been a gloomy day and Tofu only went into the garden for a few minutes at a time. When he was outside he kept an eye on the fence. The dogs next door remain an issue but he didn't seem to be particularly frightened. Due to the weather the dogs didn't appear in their garden, though.
This fabulous little fluffball is actually a fierce predator. Look for northern hawk owls to be perched at the very tip-top of a tall tree out in fairly open country where there's a mix of scattered trees and meadows. They often hunt during daylight, and swoop down from their prominent position to snatch a small vole off the snow. They nest in Canada's coniferous forests during the summer.
I hadn't planned to go to the park the other day because it was horribly windy. I changed my mind at the last minute and I'm sure glad I did. Goslings are soooo cute and it was heartwarming to see them.
Thanks a million for stopping by and for leaving me a comment! Have a great day!
For today's theme of the Happy Caturday group we were asked to post a photo which shows a "Morning Routine" of our cat. One of the things which Tofu does every morning is to follow me into the barthroom and watch me getting ready for the day. Usually he flops himself into the bathtub when doing that. When I took this photo he was distracted by Fynn who was preparing to jump into the bathtub too but Tofu's paw was ready .... :) Happy Caturday !
Sprocket, the fluffy member of the feline duo, barely putting up with the catnip sack toy I laid on her.
... they don't want to be disturbed, not even by one of the (extremely rare) sunbeams that may find its way through the window these days. :)
European Robin at sunrise. By fluffing up its feathers it helps to keep itself warm in the freezing morning temperatures
Rotkehlchen im schönsten Morgenlicht. Das Aufplustern der Federn hilft gegen die eiskalten Morgentemperaturen
Two weeks old Piping Plover chick curiously watches me near oceans edge
{ Sieweczka blada, Charadrius melodus }
Long Island, New York
Ania Tuzel© All rights reserved - No Unauthorized Use.
600 mm - f/4.0 - 1/500 - ISO 250
Thank you for stopping by, everyone :) Have a great Sunday!
It's cold and it feels even colder today because it's windy. The remaining snow in the garden is rather ice now and Fynn, the only one who has been outdoors for more than 5 minutes today, isn't fond of walking on it. Not only does the ice crush under his feet, it also sticks between his toes. It was necessary to patrol along the fence, though, and check whether the neighbour's dogs were outdoors (they were not). The cold will get worse in the next days as we expect polar weather. Fynn says he doesn't care because he has his winter coat but I think it may be time for the sweater I bought for him.
Tiny red browed finch in my Banksia tree. I've been trying to photograph one for ages & at last, a co-operative one.
Common Goldeneye babies are usually on the go, so it was amazing to see these tiny fluffballs having a short rest.
Thank you for viewing this image and for leaving me a comment! Have a great day and upcoming weekend!
Having a predominantly monochrome clowder spending most of their time in a neutral environment is a challenge, but not one an assortment of digital pigments couldn't overcome.
One from the 2022 archives.
Found a pair of Hooded Mergansers hunting in a nearby park. Mrs. Merganser paused breifly from her underwater diving activities for a portrait... and here it is.
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.
Hooded Mergansers are fairly common on small ponds and rivers, where they dive for fish, crayfish, and other food, seizing it in their thin, serrated bills. They 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.
Hooded Merganser ducklings leave their nest cavity within 24 hours of hatching. First, their mother checks the area around the nest and calls to the nestlings from ground level. From inside the nest, the little fluffballs scramble up to the entrance hole and then flutter to the ground, which may be 50 feet or more below them. In some cases, they have to walk half a mile or more with their mother to the nearest body of water.
The oldest recorded Hooded Merganser was a male and at least 14 years, 6 months old when he was shot in Mississippi in 2009. He had been banded in Minnesota in 1995.
(Sony, 200-600/6.3 @ 600 mm, 1/400 @ f/6.3, ISO 5000, edited to taste)