Hooded Merganser

 It is a rare occurrence but it does happen that Hooded Mergansers find their way to Newfoundland. This little guy showed up at Forest Pond about two weeks ago and seems to have settled it. It is eating well and appears healthy.

 Yet, this Hooded Merganser has not taken to people. Forest Pond is a good size and this little duck stays close to the centre. I did arrive there one day and it was near the shore but as soon as it heard the car, it bolted to the middle of the pond again. This has made it very difficult to photograph him. I have visited him on four occasions and on all but one, the cloud cover was so thick that it was impossible to get a focus at such a distance.

On my last trip over the clouds were rolling past the sun allowing for some moments to be brighter than others. That was when I got the best pictures.  These shots really do not do justice to this great little bird. I may get another opportunity to try again on Friday. If not, I will just have to settle on these shots for this year. When the Hooded Merganser prepares to dive, its hood disappears and his head looks smooth as in this picture.

This image shows the full hood at its finest. This is a very interesting little duck. It appears quite small next to the Black Ducks but it is 18 inches in length. It is a good thing that he has chosen to rest in a pond where there is no hunting allowed.

A Bonanza of Mergansers

While working very hard to get a Common Yellowthroat to show itself in the St. John's area last week, we had a real unexpected treat. Over our shoulders in flew of flock of 16 female Common Mergansers and set down in the water just ahead of us.

It was my closest encounter with Common Mergansers, and I have never seen so many so tightly grouped.

 We gradually inched our way around the corner and caught sight of them sitting very briefly on the water. Note the Belted Kingfisher sitting in the background not at all bothered by the commotion.

 Within a minute they decided to move on. In a flash they sprung into the air and left us staring in awe.

 Common Mergansers are common in Newfoundland but I have since learned that a sighting such as this in the St. John's area is not very common at all. What brought them here and where did they go? Let's hope they found their way to some place a safe distance from the indiscriminate fire of rifles.

This was just one more unexpected moment that Nature offered up. Almost every trip to the great outdoors brings some awe-inspiring experience that serves as a reminder that the greatest things in life are free.