Splashy Departure
This is a pair of hooded mergansers ((Lophodytes cucullatus) at a secluded pond in Albay, Georgia. It looks as if they are taking off, but they were just moving to the other end of the pond. I think that I may have been the reason for their sudden movement.
“The hooded merganser is a diving predator that largely hunts by sight while under water. Most studies report that its diet varies according to circumstances, usually being dominated by fish (44 to 81%). In addition, it feeds on aquatic insects (13 to 20% of its diet) and other aquatic invertebrates such as crabs and crayfish (22 to 50%).” - wikipedia.org
I don’t post all of the photos that I post here to my Pixels gallery, but I post the photos I like best. You can check out my gallery at:
https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com/
#photo #photography #photographer #photographylovers #wildlife #nature #bird #birds #birding #birdsofmastodon #birdwatching #birdphotography #HoodedMergansers
@[email protected] I know your family and fur babies presents 🎁 by now!
@[email protected]
Normally it would be the birds that get my attention, particularly ones as colorful as the merganser, but in this shot it’s the water that really pops!The birds were moving, my focus in this photo was on the splashing water, not on purpose though. Thanks for noticing. 😀
@[email protected] courtship behavior, perhaps?
I don’t think so, I’m pretty sure that the spotted me and moved to where they felt safe.
