A sudden wind gust can sure raise havoc with the results of a recent trip to the beauty salon.
1/1250, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
A few weeks ago I spent some time with this female Hooded Merganser as she and her mate were fishing at a local pond. As usual around here they usually came up with weather loaches. This one fought like the devil to escape her clutches but to no avail.
She was sidelit but I think that light enhanced her frosted brown, hammerhead crest. Don’t she look purdy?
1/1600, f/5.6, ISO 800, Canon 7D Mark II, Canon EF 500mm f/4L IS II USM + EF 1.4 III Extender, not baited, set up or called in
But a sudden wind gust put the kibosh on that fancy “do” and turned it into an Alfalfa-esque parody that made me smile (for those old enough to remember Alfalfa from “Our Gang”). And the wind seemed to take all the starch out of the fish too, though perhaps it actually added a little starch to her crest feathers…
I’ve rarely been able to photograph Hooded Mergansers so I really enjoyed my short time with these two birds (I’ve posted photos of the male previously).
Ron
Watched Our Gang/Little Rascals as a kid — mostly because of Petey. (I guess I was a dog person even back then.) Lovely shots! Saw what I think might have been a Cormorant after lunch today. Not sure, though, as it was kind of far away and we were full of delicious Indian food. 🙂 I did get to watch it take off from the water. Fascinating to see — and hear — the slap of the wings on the water!
Looking ahead to a rainy week. Backyard is still a little muddy, but the grass looks better than it has in YEARS! 🙂
Thanks, Marty. “The flap of the wings on the water” sounds like a cormorant.
Beautiful birds of the pretty bird.
🙂
Since many of your your photos show birds eating loaches, I am curious if your view has evolved since your 2010/10/02 blog in considering whether the loach is a net plus or just a noxious invasive. I was at a nearby bird refuge yesterday and we were discussing invasive English Holly with one of the naturalists there. He said they are ambivalent about it because the spiny leaves shelter pygmy and saw whet owls from other raptors and probably have encouraged their presence. That was a different perspective on nonnative species for me.
Lyle, I can’t think of an instance where, if I had a choice, I’d prefer to have an invasive species present over not having it. Seems to me that nature always does it best when given a chance. And that includes exotics like Chukars and Ring-necked Pheasants that I like to photograph.
If native raptors naturally feed on owls of various species it should be allowed to happen (except perhaps in unusual circumstances).
Ron, love the photos with the ‘do’s’. I have some of your memories watching the Little Rascals on a black and white TV when I was a kid in Minnesota. Our eyes were always glued to the tiny tv.
Thanks for the fun memories.
Those old tv’s were something, weren’t they, Alice. Little Rascals and Popeye cartoons were my staple as a third grader…
Thanks for the link to the weather loach blog—a living “barometer” that people knew about and used centuries ago ! You teach such good stuff every day………
“A living barometer” is a good way to put it, Kris.
I think I was referring to the first image. Second definitely Alfalfa, first one, Buckwheat!
🙂
Love the Hooded Mergansers Ron. The very colorful males get most of the attention, but I have always liked taking photos of the females elaborate hair styles. Fun photos – thanks for sharing.
Everett Sanborn, Prescott AZ
Thank you, Everett.
Love the first shot. The second puts me in mind of that posed Marilyn Monroe shot. 😀
Thanks, Arwen. Hmmm, can’t think of that MM shot…
It’s in the white dress over the sewer grate. 😀
Ok, I sure DO remember that one!
That is quite a doo! Alfalfa might be a good comparison, but perhaps Buckwheat might be better.
Frank, Alfalfa works better for me because of his twisted hair that always came up on the top of his head (if I’m remembering my characters right…)
Great photos, as usual. What is a Weather Loach?
“What is a weather loach?”
Deedee, see this older post.
https://www.featheredphotography.com/blog/2010/10/02/weather-loach-in-utah-another-invasive-species/
Cool! 🙂 Both “do’s” are fun. Haven’t heard of/thought about Alfalfa in years! 😉 The “red heads” we have here generally don’t stick around long for photographs – VERY spooky!
Thanks, Judy. I mostly remember Alfalfa from watching the Our Gang stuff on a tiny black and white TV when I was a little kid in southern CA.