Nesting Merganser

657 4

Comments


Yves Langlois

Hi Debra. What an exotic shot you present here. Hard to believe a duck appreciate a bird box but I believe in you. Well capture and an interesting description. You shot the duck in a very funny pose. Great shot my naturalist reporter.

Debra Plett

Thank you Yves, one year my mom had documented the mother and ducklings dropping from the nesting box and heading to the water late June. Hopefully she has another successful nest.

Heather Mellon

Perfect timing on this one. She's a beautiful bird and I love how you caught her in such a great pose. I agree with Clifford, it's a great looking nest box and nice to see it's being put to good use. I think the Mergansers are especially elegant looking birds and you captured that so well here.

Debra Plett

Thanks Heather, I am lucky to get this shot. I had thought that she comes out to get food and stretch her wings so I had been waiting for about 45 min. I was just about to go and make supper when I thought I saw her. She is so fast hard to catch her.

Clifford Dupuis

what a great shot and your timing is spot on as is the detail and focus. The nest is also awesome and so nice to see it used.

Debra Plett

Thank you Clifford. There is a second nesting box back in the trees. When my dad first put them up the trees were ankle high and now tower over the house. One project for the summer is to find it a new home so it can be used as well.

Description
My Dad had built this nesting box about 40 years ago in the hopes of attracting a nesting duck. The box has been home to a lot of merganser families over the years. I managed to catch the female coming out of the box over the weekend. I believe this is a female hooded merganser but it could be the commom merganser. Hopefully next trip I will see the male and no for sure what type of merganser this is.
Taken By
Debra Plett
Taken On
May 26, 2023
Tagged
hooded merganser common duck dogtooth lake ontario canada plant tree animal bird wood
  • Focal: 400
  • Lens Model: Sony 70-400mm F4-5.6 G SSM II (SAL70400G2)
  • Shutter speed: 0.0005 sec
  • Aperture: f/ 7.1

Other Photos by Debra