One of my favorite birds are the merganser ducks. I think it is their rusty feathered heads that stick out in spikes and their coloring. They look exotic to me.
We have been lucky enough to see them three or four times this summer.
Here are some shots I recently took of them on our autumn trips out on our own lake:
It looks like the one of the left is bending over to poke at the other one, saying: "Look up buddy, she's here taking photos of us again!:
This pair hadn't noticed me yet:
The two on the left are saying: "Why does he always have to swim ahead of us? What does he think it IS!....the Olympics?":
"There he goes again!":
I think the one in the middle of the rock is yawning:
Something has their attention, making them look to the left and they didn't even notice me:
Just LOOK at their heads' rusty feathers! I LOVE that about them!:
Five mergansers, just hanging out:
I love this couple. The head on the one on the right has that perfect plummage again! What a handsome couple!:
Our leaves are slowly changing...I hope to get out this week some to capture some woods shots for you all. I also went on a longgggg hike this weekend and got some photos of a remote section of Lake Superior shoreline, which I will be posting soon.Have a great day!!! If you get the chance, get outside today and enjoy our beautiful autumn season yourself. Take time to smell the leaves.....I love the smell of fall.
24 comments:
These pictures are so pretty. I love the ducks and their lovely river and rocks etc. How do you get your pictures so big, they look scrumptious. Well done. I also like the rusty heads. I love that colour too.
Blessings, Star
those mergansers are beautiful, I dont think I ever have seen one before
Have a great day
nice pics. the rusty plumage around their heads crowns them nicely. glad that the leaves are changing as well. fall is here!
looks like the Olympics to me!!!
The other day I pulled a stupid and had to redo my blog. If my last posts are not showing up in my feed please come back and re-subscribe. thanks
Star: If you email me, I can explain how I enlarge my pictures on the blog.
I love those ducks.
Sara: I hadn't seen one until last year, either. So, I was really happy to be able to photograph them a few times this year.
Brian: yes, fall is definitely here up north!
Grannyann: I will check it out and resubscribe if I have to do that...I am behind in reading others' blogs, so if I don't comment for a while on your blog it is because I am not current in my reading yet. I have been outside as much as possible, away from my computer right now, taking nature shots until all the leaves fall off.
I have only seen these birds in the water. You were so fortunate to have them pose for you. When I was young, I use to look across Lake Pokegama, and say look loons. The old guy in camp would say something like silly guy they may have the shape but they are just Mergansers.
I love your photos...the beautiful mergansers, the rocks, the water and the reflections...just perfect Joan!
Ijust returned from my holiday in the jungle. I saw ssome spectacular hornbills, but I couldn't get a single picture! I don't know how you do it- I am all admiration for your skill in photographing birds. The pictures are lovely.
Joan, I love your favorite ducks and their beautiful feathers....almost as much as I love your blog. No other blog has such beautiful photo's my friend, you use your gifts well....really looking forward to your autumn photos...Luv ya....:-) Hugs
Those are some really neat ducks. You get to see such a nice variety out where you live. I rarely see anything other than Mallards in the ponds near us. I sometimes forget other types exist :)
I had never heard of mergansers. They look like ducks to me but I guess they are a type of duck. Right?
That's good advice, I think I might. Your posts always make me want to go on walks with my camera! But wildlife and nature is not nearly as interesting as in your part of the world! I also enjoyed the mushrooms in the previous post, and that squirrel on the watering can should be framed!!! And then those gorgeous sunsets on the lake. *sigh*
I enjoyed catching up here!!!
O wow! What wonderful pictures! You seem to be having a lot of fun with that camera! Thank you!
OMG!!! THESE ARE SO GORGEOUS!!! You have been having quite an adventure the last month or so with that camera!!! wonderful shots!
L.D.: Yes, I was fortunate to see them this summer so much. Really, I feel blessed whenever I see wildlife to photograph.
Wanda: Thanks so much. I am trying to take as many photos as I can during spring, summer and fall because I don't venture out as much during the winter because of our extreme cold and snow. I capture a few snow storms, but other than that, I have a long, dry spell of photography until spring again. I will have to go south on a trip to feed my addiction to photography then. ha
Lotusleaf: Thanks! I would love to see a jungle some day. If I didn't have my zoom on my camera, I wouldn't be able to capture as many birds as I do.
Bernie: What a lovely compliment, Bernie! You are a sweetheart. I am trying to get out to take some more color photos over the this week and next...
Scott: Thanks SO much for stopping and visiting my blog..hope you join on as a Follower, that would make my day! I use a point and shoot Panasonic Lumix with 18X optical zoom and 10 megapixels. It is the best camera I have ever owned and has led me to a brand new addiction of nature photography. Thanks for the congrats on my nursing career. I went back to college when my kids were little an enjoyed my 20+ years, but am even MORE glad to be enjoying retirement. Please join on as a Follower, it will be fun to have you aboard. Oh, and I hope all my turtle shots helped your painting.
Catherine: We have a great variety..next year I hope to get out to more smaller inland lakes to capture some other varieties on camera, so stay tuned.
Loree: Yes, indeed, they are a duck.
Jientje: Thanks so much! I am behind in reading some of my fav blogs too..because I am trying to capture as much as I can with my camera outside until we lose all our leaves. I don't take much nature photography in the winter due to our extreme cold and snow...so I am away from my computer alot this time of year.
Wendytb: Fun with the camera, indeed. I am addicted, in a good way. :-}
Cathy: Thanks..yes I have been driven to get out and get pictures, because as you well know, before we know it, all the leaves will be down here and we will be dealing with extreme cold and snow. I don't go out much during the winter to photograph anything, so that will make me sad.
The names of these birds/ducks are incredible: Mergansers, Cormorants, what amazing names! Not to mention amazing pictures, and I'm sure that one picture shows the duck yawning. They look so toasty warm and comfy it is a picture in itself. Great shots, and very kind comments on my blog. Thank you.
I always say that if I could be an animal I'd be a duck. Because they can walk, swim and fly. It's the best of all three worlds. Also I'd have a gorgeous singing voice.
These rusty ducks are very cool. I have never seen anything but mallards myself.
Before I end my comment I just want to remark on your Lijit search. Right before I read this post, I looked over there and saw the term "nose picking rabbit". I don't know why but it made me laugh for over a minute. I wish I would get a few searches like that. :D
DJan: Thanks! It is such a pleasure to see ducks and take photos of them..they are very calming.
Kearsie: you are right! But, do you want a diet of grass and/or fish 24/7? No chocolate??? That would be quacky!
Ratty: Isn't Lijit a riot? They put word combinations up that I don't have a CLUE where they get them. Nose picking rabbit, huh? Now there's a visual. ha If one of us could catch THAT on camera, now there would be an interesting blogpost!! Glad I gave you a smile today.
Thanks for becoming a follower of mine. Now I can enjoy your beautiful photos as well! And you have lots! I will be back. I really enjoy nature photos.
Oh, the mergansers are so cool. I've heard of them but I don't think I've ever seen one. Great photos.
Ginnymo: So glad you visited my blog, too. I loved your woodchuck video. You are so lucky to have all those animals visiting your yard. I have to go search in the woods and lakes for the ones I find!!!
SquirrelQueen: I love them too. You are welcome. I was thrilled to see them and to be able to take photos of them.
I love these little birds. It took Brian and I forever to find them in our bird book when we first saw them up north.
Ashley: I am smitten by them...I think it is their feathers on their head and their grace...love them!
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