This entry was posted on 3 May 2008 by mon@rch. It was filed under Allegany State Park, Birds, Nature and was tagged with Common Merganser.

19 responses

1. 

   jayne

   How cute!!!! The babies look just like mom right now. Adorable and another wonderful shot.

   3 May 2008 at 6:47 am
   

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2. 

   Lisa at Greenbow

   I love these pictures. I think Mergansers are one of the most handsome ducks. I have seen the babies on their mothers backs. It makes such a sweet scene.

   3 May 2008 at 6:58 am
   

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3. 

   Ruth

   Very elegant adults. Our Mergansers have all left the local rivers for the north. Last summer I saw many female Mergansers on Manitoulin Island but not one single male. They aren’t family guys for sure.

   3 May 2008 at 8:22 am
   

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4. 

   Rondi

   A great story =) Strong plot, good composition!

   3 May 2008 at 8:31 am
   

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5. 

   Pam

   LOL Tom! I love your story and your photos! Ohhhh, look at those cute ducklings! So the males don’t hang around?

   3 May 2008 at 8:33 am
   

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6. 

   Linda in Erie

   I just don’t know how the males could leaves such a perfect family. Just wonderful photos, especially of those cute babies.

   3 May 2008 at 9:02 am
   

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7. 

   Bird Girl

   Wonderful! That second picture – wow! Love the whole series!

   3 May 2008 at 9:20 am
   

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8. 

   Pinar

   🙂 great story! I’m really enjoying all the photos you’ve been posting… the colours, details and compositions. Thanks.

   3 May 2008 at 9:41 am
   

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9. 

   wren

   I thought you were a true romantic, until that last frame. Alas, no storybook endings for the merganser family.

   Love the photos!

   3 May 2008 at 9:45 am
   

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10. 

    Samuel Snook (Birdman)

    Yes, spring is here!

    3 May 2008 at 10:56 am
    

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11. 

    Liza Lee Miller

    That was wonderful!

    3 May 2008 at 11:35 am
    

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12. 

    jan m

    love those pictures!

    3 May 2008 at 11:52 am
    

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13. 

    Mel

    LOL 😀
    Fun post with great pics

    3 May 2008 at 4:08 pm
    

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14. 

    mon@rch

    @ Jayne – thanks and it is always fun trying to photograph Mergansers.
    @ Lisa – thanks and we do find them here doing that also!
    @ Ruth – Males disappear after the eggs are laid and then the males turn into their basic plumage (looking like the females)!
    @ Rondi – thanks
    @ Pam – Nope, males are gone!
    @ Linda – Not that perfect of a family, I would have to believe many of those eggs are from a different father!
    @ Bird Girl – thanks
    @ Pinar – thanks and I enjoy taking pictures!
    @ Wren – LOL, I only report the facts!
    @ Samuel – spring sure is!
    @ Jan – thanks
    @ Mel – thanks

    3 May 2008 at 7:38 pm
    

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15. 

    NatureShutterbug

    I would love to see a baby Merganser of any kind. Great sequence!

    3 May 2008 at 11:18 pm
    

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16. 

    Marg

    Great story-love the photos!

    4 May 2008 at 8:13 am
    

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17. 

    RuthieJ

    Fun pictures Mon@rch. Do the females sometimes raise all their ducklings together as a group?

    6 May 2008 at 9:27 am
    

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18. 

    Grace

    I love your photo essay. I thing common merganser ducklings are beautiful.

    7 May 2008 at 10:48 pm
    

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19. 

    Aunt B

    That last shot is so touching and just perfect!!
    Cute way to describe the ‘ladies’ on the pier.
    You always have that special way to describe anything you post!

    12 May 2008 at 7:00 am
    

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