Red-breasted Mergansers on the Meadow Grounds Lake

 

While the red-breasted mergansers were busy feeding on fish exposed by the reduced water lever in the Meadow Grounds Lake, they were also finding time for courtship.

 

While the red-breasted mergansers I normally encounter here are not overly wary of humans and will allow me to approach quite closely before flushing.

 

However even when flushed the RB mergansers will fly only a short distance before settling back on the water.  

A lone female RB merganser takes a break from fishing, resting on a recently exposed stump.

 

The Meadow Grounds Lake was first filled in 1964.  The stump, which still appears to be in very good condition, has been submerged for nearly 50 years. 

Waterfowl Migration Winding Down

Ring-necked ducks taking flight

With the arrival of May the spring waterfowl migration is winding down in my area.  It all began back in late February with the snow geese and tundra swans arriving at Middle Creek and by early March buffleheads, lesser scaup, and common mergansers were on the local lake.  The mild winter had failed to freeze the lake so there was not the usual ice to impede their early arrival.

By early April these species had moved on and were replaced with hooded mergansers, ring-necked ducks, horned grebes, along with the resident mallards and wood ducks.  Last weekend a flock of ring-necked ducks were still on the lake.  During my visits yesterday and today I failed to spot them.

Common Loons

The loons arrived during the second week of April with the numbers peaking last weekend when I spotted at least four individuals.  I photographed this pair yesterday but today was unable to spot a singe loon.  More loons may arrive yet however I will not be surprised if this is the last I will see them this spring.

Common Loon, winter plumage

As the loons pass through our area both the breeding and winter plumage can be seen with birds of both plumages being seen in nearly equal numbers.

Loon in flight

Check out how the loons feet extend well beyond its tail apparently acting as its rudder in flight.  The loons legs are positioned far back on its body; perfect for diving but useless for walking on land.  A loon causes a considerable commotion taking flight as it must patter for well over one hundred yards to gain enough speed to become airborne. 

Seldom have I observed a loon return to the lake once it takes flight.  Typically the loon, once in the air, will circle the lake a number of times clockwise gaining altitude with each pass.  After three to five passes it will be high in the air while I watch it passing over the north end of the lake soon becoming a mere speck above the horizon before disappearing completely.

Red-breasted Merganser

The female and immature red-breasted mergansers are the last to leave.  I have never observed mature males later than mid April however hens and immature males will stay well into May, sometimes as late as the last week.  I photographed this female stretching her wings yesterday after she had emerged from fishing underwater.

Female Red-breasted Mergansers

The mergansers were very actively fishing yesterday and diving frequently.  I enjoy watching these birds when they encounter a large school of baitfish.  The birds will go from swimming with their heads underwater to running across the surface when suddenly the entire flock will dive.  Where moments before a flock of ducks were swimming, only swirls on the water remain.  A few moments later heads will begin popping up some distance from where they dived and the search for fish will resume.

Many of the diving species such as the loons, horned grebes, pied-billed grebes, and redhead ducks will dive to evade intruders however while they dive to feed, the red-breasted merganser when pressed to closely take flight.

While the waterfowl migration is winding down the spring song bird migration is heating up.  Just this week I spotted my first hummingbird, cat bird, and spotted sandpiper for the season.

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Red-breasted Mergansers: Spring Migration

Mixed flock of red-breasted mergansers and horned grebes

As longtime followers of Country Captures well know photographing the spring waterfowl migration is a particular passion of mine.  I try each year to documenting the first sightings of each species as they arrive and attempt to capture outstanding images of them as they pause here on their way north to their nesting grounds.  Each species migrates through our area on their own schedule with the first arriving shortly after ice-out and progressing until the last finally depart near the end of May.

Red-breasted merganser, with eyes underwater, search for prey

I have considered myself an outdoorsman most of my life but only once I immersed myself in wildlife photography did I become aware of the diversity of waterfowl that pass by.  For decades as spring arrived my attention turned to fishing.  While fishing I would observe ducks on the lakes but other than the familiar mallards and wood ducks I did not take the time or interest to identify the ducks I spotted.

Immature male red-breasted merganser

Saturday I found myself traveling near Washington DC with a small group of persons who both hunt and fish.  At one point the conservation turned to eagles.  One fellow, lets call him Bob, stated that he had never seen a bald eagle and would love to.  I commented, "really" and he affirmed that indeed it was true.  I replied that I seldom go a week without spotting at least one.  He seemed very surprised by this as we don't live that far apart.

 

Red-breasted merganser female

Just a few minutes later I noticed a large bird trailed by a couple of blackbirds swoop low over the highway.  Pointing up at the bird I attempted to draw Bob's attention to it telling him that it was an immature bald eagle.  By the time Bob looked the eagle was hidden from his view and I could tell from his response that he was doubting the eagle sighting.

Passing by DC we were traveling north on 270 about 45 minutes later when I notice another large bird again trailed by blackbirds.  A closer look revealed the white head and tail of an adult bald eagle.  Again drawing Bob's attention to the bird he finally had spotted his very first eagle.  There is little doubt that this was not the first eagle that had crossed in front of his eyes but it was the first that he had ever "seen". 

Red-breasted merganser taking flight

While I was busy fishing the spring waterfowl migrations passed by.  It was only once that I began photographing the many species of waterfowl that I truly began to "see" the beauty and the wonder of the Spring Waterfowl Migration! 

Changing Seasons

After an unusually cold and wet spring, summer arrived on the tail of a series of vicious storms that downed trees and knocked out power across our area.  The heat began to build on Saturday and by today those spending Memorial Day outdoors were greeted with a heavy morning ground fog giving way to bright blue skies and +90 deg temps by afternoon.  This doe seems to be taking it all in stride as she watches other deer drift into the meadow.

This is the season of newborn fawns.  I have yet to observe a newborn this season but one look at the udder and thin flanks of this doe tells me that some fawns are about.

Wednesday evening the 25th I experienced my last encounter with the red-breasted mergansers who seemed reluctant to continue their migration to the summer breeding grounds.  I happened upon them just as the sun was caressing the western horizon.  I love the pose and the lighting, a fitting last photo.  I looked for them Friday and today without success.  No doubt they have headed out on the last leg of their journey as the seasons change calling them northward to continue their part in the never ending cycle of the season and of life itself.

Shots from the Lake

A Great Blue Heron allowed me to approach while it watched intently under the stump.  I was hoping for a great catch shot but whatever it was watching apparently escaped without giving the bird the opportunity to strike.

The pair of Red-breasted Mergansers are still here and are becoming quite accustomed to my boat approaches.  As acclimated as they have became they no longer take flight when pressed closely; choosing instead to swim away.  The great light here gave me what may be my very best ever "on the water shot" of a RB Merganser.

Still Here: Red-breasted Mergansers

Mid May and the Red-breasted Mergansers are still here!  The mergansers arrived shortly after ice-out.  By early April I could expect to see twenty to thirty during my boating forays on the local lake.  Their numbers have been dwindling since early May and today I located just two.  I expect this lonely pair will soon be winging their way north to the breeding range in Canada. 

Many of my attempts to get close-up on the water shots end with the birds taking off.  Mostly they fly away giving only butt shots (and nobody wants butt shots!) but in this situation the merganser crossed in front of the boat.  My only frustration was that I didn't get the eye as sharp as I would have liked.  Never the less the photo does illustrate the bird's take-off technique as it patters across the water.

In addition to the mergansers I also observed an immature bald eagle and a single loon, however no photo opportunities presented.   

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Divers, Large and Small

Female Red-breasted Mergansers Flushing

Red-breasted Mergansers are large diving ducks that winter along the Atlantic and Gulf coast passing through our area on their way to the northern nesting grounds.  I typically observe the males during a short time period from when the water first becomes open through perhaps the first week of April while the females typically are here until the late April/early May time frame.  

 I read one reference that noted that they are possibly the fastest bird reaching speeds of 100 mph in flight.  I have never timed them but as you can see here they can get moving very quickly.

Female Buffleheads in flight

The tiny Buffleheads are the smallest of our diving ducks and are typically one of the wariest ducks I encounter while boating for ducks.  Only once have I been able to approach buffleheads to within good camera range and that time the high-noon light was so harsh that I was disappointed with the results.  This flock flushed while I was still well out of camera range but then swung around passing by a little closer.

A lone male catches up with the Girls

I'm still waiting an watching for the opportunity to capture a great Bufflehead portrait but I'm certainly not holding my breath.  Like the RB Merganser the last of the Buffleheads will soon be leaving my area as they continue on to their nesting grounds.

Flight shots oft times are easier to capture than those of a sitting bird.  Panning and focusing does present  problems but acceptable images can be made at much greater distances for when the bird spreads its wings it becomes a much larger subject.

My waterfowl migration season is showing signs of coming to a close.  The Ring-necks Ducks, Lesser Scaup, Common Mergansers and others have already moved on.  Soon I will be turning my attention to the Wood Duck, Mallard, and Hooded Merganser ducklings which should begin hatching within the next two to three weeks.

I've Got my Ducks in a Row

I began my day by arriving at the wetlands, walking in and setting up the hide under cover of darkness.  Across the marsh I could hear the chatter of geese and ducks as they prepared for the new day.  As the eastern sky began to lighten I could see their faint shapes moving about and soon two ducks approached close enough I could identify them as a pair of Ring-necked ducks.  Peering through the gloom I could see them looking my hide over quite closely.  Soon a pair of Canada geese approached and with much honking they swam back and forth and like the ducks observed my blind closely.

As the sun rose flock after flock of ducks and geese took to the skies apparently moving north.  The waterfowl that did stay in the wetlands avoided my hide, staying well concealed.  After three uneventful hours I decided on making a tactical shift and headed home to hook up the boat.  Within the hour I was launching on the local lake and shortly began locating waterfowl.  Loons, horned grebes, wood ducks, mallards, ring-necked ducks, red-breasted mergansers, and bufflehead were present as well as this group of Common Mergansers.  When I first located the Common Mergansers they took flight well out of camera range.  Later I observed a small flock of ducks circling and landing in a small cove.  Their new position allowed me to stalk to within reasonable range using the lake's shoreline as cover.  As I drifted around the point the mergansers appeared in perfect formation; finally I had Got My Ducks In A Row!

The moment was short lived as the Mergansers sprang into the air.  I focused the camera on the colorful male shooting continuous mode as he made his hasty escape.

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Boating for Waterfowl

Among to many ways to enjoy the outdoors one of my favorites is by boat.  Over the years I have owned boats ranging from a little 12 foot jon boat that I car-topped to a 21ft cabin rig that carried me over much of the Chesapeake Bay.  My most used boat has been a 15 foot aluminum modified V bass boat with both gas and electric motor.  I have towed this boat as far north as Central Ontario and south to North Carolina in search of fishing adventures as well as using it extensively locally.  Since getting back into photography with the advent of digital I have been boating a great deal combining fishing with waterfowl photography. 

Saturday morning I wet the boat for the first time this year in a nearby lake.  Launching was difficult as the Pa Fish and Boat Commission had lowered the lake some 7-8 feet last fall in anticipation of dam repairs.  The water was deep enough at the launch ramp for me to get the boat off but a rock ledge just beyond required wading in and rocking the boat by hand to get it through an area of 3-4 inch deep water.  Although noting so much as bumped the lures I was trolling the morning was well worth the effort as waterfowl was plentiful.

This first shot is of a flock of Ring-necked ducks feeding along the shoreline as the morning sun lights the scene nearly to the water's edge.  The base of the trees mark the normal shoreline when the lake is at normal level.  A scenic shot was the best I could do as these ducks flew before I could approach within good camera range.

A small flock of Lesser Scaup did likewise but at a close enough distance to allow me to capture this nice flight shot.

Passing overhead a flock of female Red-breasted mergansers formed the familiar V shaped pattern so common with migrating waterfowl.

When I noticed a lone unidentified duck flying by I took a quick shot in hopes of being able to id it from the photograph.  Even though the distance was long and the image is heavily cropped it is easy to identify it as a Green-winged Teal; a bird that I seldom see in my local.

During this outing I observed the waterfowl pictured here along with the following; horned grebe, loon, common merganser,bufflehead, and ruddy ducks. 

The spring waterfowl migrations are a wonderful time to be outdoors enjoying what nature has to offer.  I am trying to find as much time as possible to photograph these beautifully colored travelers as they only too quickly pass through our area.

Quick Move: Red-breasted Merganser Hens

I first noticed these Red-breasted Merganser hens flying towards me apparently intending to land near the boat. With a bass tournament underway they had numerous boats to contend with and apparently had not noticed mine.

Once on the water they quickly spied me and immediately took flight, leaving me with this unique image of them as they ran frantically across the water.

Red-breasted Mergansers

The Red-breasted Mergansers are common visitors during the spring migration but oddly enough in the past I have encountered only hens on our local lake. This all changed one recent morning when I encountered a flock of mergansers containing two males.

The mergansers allowed me to approach to within range of my 100-400mm without undue concern.

As I paralleled the feeding birds they dived repeatedly, returning to the surface within a few seconds. As this was my first encounter with the colorful males I focused most of my attention upon them.

This was my second encounter with the Red- Breasted Mergansers this spring. During my next visit to the lake three days later only a large flock of females were present.

Red-Breasted Merganser

As any regular visitor to Country Captures knows, I have been having a great time this spring photo-hunting waterfowl. I have become particularly focused on capturing wildlife action photos. I consider this photograph of a Red-Breasted Merganser to be among my top shots of the spring.

I have carried a keen interest in wildlife since my boyhood days and it has not dimmed one bit as the years pass. Early on my interest centered on hunting and fishing as this was the only way I knew to interact with these interesting creatures. As I matured my interest in wildlife drew me into the field of wildlife conservation where I served as a Pa. Deputy Wildlife Conservation Officer for twenty three years.

Hunting presents a set of challenges that the hunter must overcome to become successful. The challenges begin with locating suitable habitat and locating the query to the end game of firing a well placed shot to bring the hunt to a successful conclusion.

I do continue to hunt for the table a little each year but now the camera has replaced the deadly weapons for the vast majority of my wildlife interaction. I find the challenges of wildlife photography are even more difficult than that of conventional hunting. Photography negates a few of the challenges that face the hunter as there are no set hunting seasons or bag limits to contend with. Also we can photograph where animals are to some degree acclimated to people; areas such as National Parks and nature reserves.

The photographer faces additional challenges such as amount of light, lighting angles, subject positioning, motion, and suitable backgrounds to mention a few.

I find a close encounter with wildlife that results in a successful image capture every bit as exhilarating and satisfying as any encounter in my younger years and much more so than bagging any animal does today.

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