There have been a few small groups of Hooded Mergansers around the various ponds at Magnolia Plantation over the last month. Two or three birds, hardly enough to call a flock, and always on the far side of whichever pond I saw them. Until last week.
Two days I caught a fast exit when the group got startled in almost the same spot. The second time I captured them lower to the ground, with a nicer background.
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Charleston, SC
January 17 and 19, 2025
A small group of Hooded Mergansers was idly swimming a section of an inlet off Shem Creek.
I expected to see them diving for food, but they just bobbed along.
Not sure what caused this kerfuffle and it was over in a second.
Shem Creek, Mount Pleasant, SC
February 9, 2024
A female Hooded Merganser swam by with some kind of crayfish or fresh water shrimp.
I didn’t catch her swallowing it, but when she turned back just the antenna were visible out the side of her beak.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 30, 2023
These four female Hooded Mergansers spread out a little bit and alternated diving.
They were quite successful at capturing their prey, some kind of crayfish or fresh water shrimp.
Looking through the camera lens you don’t always realize everything that is happening in a scene
— and up popped another duck!
And just as quickly one dove.
then another.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 30, 2023
A small flock of Hooded Mergansers paddled across the pond, passing by a number of Great Egrets that were just standing around.
The ducks came relative close to me, much to my surprise.
The reeds at the edge of the pond, which so often spoil a shot, this time provided something of a viewing blind.
Hooded Mergansers feed by diving for prey and were finding a good run of crayfish in this spot.
Donnelley Wildlife Management Area, SC
November 30, 2023
And a photobombing turtle!
One of them was fanning her tail feathers in quite a display.
I’m assuming they are female but it is possible that one or all of them are juvenile males, not females.
A lone male Hooded Merganser was on the other side of the pond but he opted not to check this trio out up close.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
February 27, 2023
A big snack!
Some kind of a tadpole from the shape and way bigger than the duck’s mouth.
So big she took it for a ride before trying to swallow it, and slapped it in the water a couple of times.
Two other Mergansers that were following along so she changed course. Shortly after this image she swallowed it.
Cypress Wetlands, Port Royal, SC
February 27, 2023
I was momentarily distracted by the Canada Goose With A Treasure while watching the two Hooded Merganser drakes show off. When I reverted my attention to the ducks I saw that a few more females and another male had joined the party.
The three drakes performed tight circle maneuvers…
… that ended with a spirited chase.
The females lost interest and pretty soon they all casually swam to the other side of the pond, out of my view.
Continued from Male Hooded Merganser Duo Showing Off
The second female toward the back got a little fancier with her tail action and the first one fluffed her crown up, showing a bit more interest.
The male-male competition got a little heated.
Then the female flattened herself, keeping her head under water for a bit, presumably to express interest in the males’ dance. I’d not seen this behavior before, and at one point wondered how long she could stay submerged.
They circled around her several times while the second female moved on.
Two Hooded Merganser drakes were showing off for a female, doing their best to strut their stuff.
The female didn’t seem to be that interested, and much of the action was one male crowding the other out.
Back and forth they went, in and out of reflections created by trees on the far side of the pond.
A second female circled around a few times but she didn’t distract the drakes from the first female.
Magnolia Cemetery, Charleston, SC
February 20, 2021
