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

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https://swede1952-photographs.pixels.com/

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