As close as I've been able to get

to Hooded Mergansers Lophodytes cucullatus ...ever!

The Hooded Merganser winter in our area but only briefly. I know "winter" is here when they start showing up in a particular neighborhood pond. Every winter I see just a few and then they are gone.

Last winter I was able to sneak up on them without spooking them and these are the pictures I got.

There are 14 pictures...overkill I'm sure, but since I couldn't decide which to exclude you get all of them. LOL

2 Males and a Female
She's doesn't seem very interested in them, does she?

#2

#3 2 Females

#4

#5

His crest is up and he's following her around the pond

#6
They are so cute showing off...

#7

#8

2 adults and a juvenile maybe?

#9

#10

Lift Off

Thanks Resin I was counting on you!

I took pity on all of you and only have one more picture to post but DG keeps timing out on me...very unusual
I guess I'll post it a little later

I love them all! What a cool looking bird! That last shot is awesome, showing the water splashing as he took off!

Thanks for sharing. I've never seen one, but hope to some day

Janet

great shots Stacey. I really love the Hoodies

Great shots! I love the one of him taking off and the other of him stretching and flapping his wings! There all so nice. Thanks very much!

Very nice series.

What wonderful pictures

Floridian, what a thrill - fabulous pics!!

Thanks...I just love these little birds and wish they'd stay around the neighborhood a bit longer.
In the lift off picture you can see just how many kicks it takes them to get airborne, there are 8 in the picture, maybe more in the beginning that I missed

On Golden Pond?? LOL What else, right?
Although it was near sunset the reflections in the water are of a nearby house.

Excellent series of photos of a beautiful duck.

Floridian: Thanks for the pics. They are adorable! Have they come to your area yet this year?? It sure is WINTER here in FL now!
Joyce

Great shts Floridian! We have one lone female hooded overwintering in Newfoundland. Our poor bird is having a much harder time of it than those in Florida!

So lovely!

Stacey, Now I see why it was hard to decide which pic to post.. What a lotta good shots!

:-D

Thanks Linthicum...hey did you get that oft dreamed of lens??

Joyce, Hi I don't think we've met before so I had to look up Ft White. It seems you're up by MollyMc and a few others, Have you met Molly? As normal, y'all are having a bit more weather than us but it has been steadily chilly here for at least a week. We've had one "cover the plants" cold night with air frost but no damage to the uncovered plants so that's good. I saw the birds in December but just for a couple of days. I pass a certain roadside lake on my way to work and occasionally see a small flock of little birds. I can't quite make out what they are and when I'm early enough to stop they aren't there...hehehe go figure

Todd, should your Hoodie be there or should she have migrated out? Poor little thing all alone in the COLD! Florida must seem to be a vacation destination for them!

Thanks Duck and Deb...the shots were lucky too because often these little guys are sleeping or preening when I see them. I was lucky that they were active this day

Stacey

Wow Stacey - I am totally bowled over by your shots and this amazing looking bird! Thanks so much for posting these!

Stacey, I dream no more !!! I bought it (Nikon 500MM/4.0 D IFED II AF-S) last month from B&H photo .... I'm still trying to mentally, and physically, adjust to its size and its been too cold to spend a lot of time outdoors. Plus, I still need to purchase a new tripod (Gitzo G-1325) and a Wimberley head to accommodate the weight. It will probably get limited use but will be available for selective photo opportunities.

WooHoo!! Congratulations! Happy Birthday to you!!

Early gift? LOL

Great pictures, we get these in the spring as soon as the ice starts to thaw. What great birds on of my favorites. I saw some in the fall this year, but they come closer to the house in the spring eatting stuff in the water. I know how hard it is to take those pictures. I have not yet got anything that close. What is hard here is they are under the water more than on top. They can stay under an amazingly long time. The females tend to be the better fishers, coming up with little fish after fish, while the males come up empty beaked most times. I see as many as 10 males following one or two females. After mating the males seem to leave until fall. The mating is really something. Poor girl gets held under the water for a long time, then he grabs her by the top notch so she can sputter and get some air. Thanks for the pictures, I will be looking forward to their arrival soon.
I just dug through my pictures and I don't even have any of the hooded mergansers. I do have a picture of the common merganser, they are twice as big and only 1/2 as cool.

Stacey,
I love your Hooded Merganser pictures and envy you getting so close to them.
I saw them a couple of times when I was in Canada back in 1998, but never got that close. Here is the best picture I managed back then:

Very nice kennedy!

It is my goal this year to get a picture at least half as nice as yours! good jobs guys!

Wow these little guys are sure widespread. I wish we saw more of them...they're so cute!

Hi Ken...soooo good to see you, my friend.