Hooded Mergansers

Today my neighbor Rebecca emailed me that the mergansers had returned to her pond. She and Michelle live almost right behind us and have a TERRIFIC view overlooking a beaver pond. I hurried over to see what I could see. I love this time of year when the ducks return, because you know Spring is really here. The Mallards, Canada Geese, and Wood Ducks usually stick around, but I don't think the mergansers do. I was pretty happy to see the Hooded Mergansers, as that is a new bird for me and I can add it to my life list. They are fun to watch, they dive a lot and their crests can go all the way up or down, so on the male especially you can watch the white on the crest go from a narrow line to a large patch. Here is a picture of a pair taken by John Schwarz at birdpix. Besides the Canada Geese, Mallards, and Wood Ducks, the beaver was out and about swimming and diving! That was fun to see!