Latest Visitors to the Pond

One thing about being blessed enough to live on our own private little piece of wilderness is that I don't always have to get in the van and ramble to see new things. We've been on this bit of land of ours for over 10 years now and this is the first time I've seen this particular visitor.

Hooded Merganser's winter over in our area but are considered uncommon.

There were actually three of them out there in the pond but the third one was some distance from these two. They were pretty skittish and I only got two shots from almost 100 yards away before they flew off. In the first shot the male was shaking his head, obscuring the signature hammerhead crest and in this shot you can see that the female is just beginning to launch herself, to be quickly followed by the other two.

All I was left with was a wake on the water where they paddled themselves into the air and a unique memory. (Unless they come back!)