I love encounters with these beautiful birds: adult male Hooded Merganser, Fidalgo Island pond.
It was fun yesterday to be focused on offshore geese, only to find this little Merganser paddle its way through in the opposite direction. “All good, mates.” Ship Harbor shoreline. Canada Geese, Hooded Merganser.
A hooded merganser “stands up” in a pond at Weaverling Spit on Fidalgo Island.
Due to icy conditions that left only a few areas with open water, this pair of Hooded Mergansers had the pond to themselves Tuesday morning. Continued warming will mean more thaw, more neighbors.
One place led to the other, and before my Wednesday outing was over I had visited Rosario Head, Bowman Bay and the West Beach Cranberry Lake area of Deception Pass State Park. Had to take some photos of wildlife friends along the way. Hawk and geese surprised me with their patience.