Florida Gulf Coast Creations

Tag: Merganser

  • Mergansers

    Mergansers

    The past few years we have been fortunate to find several groups of hooded mergansers that picked this area as their winter home. They are small diving ducks that like to feed on little fish, snails, and water insects. When they find a good food source and get into a feeding frenzy, they will dive repeatedly until they are satisfied, or the food source disappears. They will surface only for a moment before diving again. During these periods, they can be a challenge to photograph.

    Male Hooded Merganser Surfaces After Dive
    Male Hooded Merganser Surfaces After Diving for Food

    Male mergansers like to show off. Their bright white crown feathers are striking when fanned. They will often do water dances for the females and chase other males to show dominance. Unfortunately, they don’t stay here for long. They’re among the first group of ducks to leave in the spring, often by the first of March. But while they’re here, they are enjoyable to watch.

    Hooded Merganser Male Rests On Pond In Sunlight
    Hooded Merganser Male Rests on a Pond in the Sun

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Fort De Soto Park

    Fort De Soto Park

    A great location that is often featured on many photography websites and in magazines is Fort De Soto Park in Tierra Verde. The park has a very diversified environment which includes several miles of beaches. Fort De Soto Park sits at the end of Tampa Bay where it flows into the Gulf of America. In addition to the wide range of shore birds by the water, there are also hardwood areas where we often find warblers and songbirds.

    Hooded Warbler Resting On Branch Among Green Leaves
    Hooded Warbler Resting on a Branch with Green Leaves

    During the spring migration, the variety of birds increases significantly. The park is known for the migratory stopovers, which sometimes last for only a day or two. Every day in late spring brings different birds on their way back north. There are abundant ospreys and pelicans. It’s also common to see bald eagles.

    The link below provides more information on Fort De Soto Park.

    A few more pictures from this journey are featured below. For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

  • Mergansers

    Mergansers

    The hooded mergansers have begun arriving for the winter. We often find them on small retention ponds around the area until February. They are typically wary but this flock of around 15 birds found a small little pond to their liking next to a very busy intersection. I seldom get an opportunity for a decent photo of a bird that is sharply backlit, but the reflections worked this time.

    Hooded Merganser Female Backlit On Small Pond With Reflection
    Female Hooded Merganser Swimming in a Pond with Backlighting

    For a larger selection of photos, go to the galleries listed.

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