1/31/2010

Hooded Merganser Up Close and Personal!

Hooded Merganser Sudbury River 1 2010
OK, I finally feel as if my life has some small amount of meaning once again. I went out, I went to my river, I took photos (damn good ones, too!), and even took a dozen shots of a bird so awesome that just seeing him gives me shivers!

Hooded Merganser Sudbury River three 1 2010
Isn't he a glorious, magnificent, outrageous looking creature? In this shot, you can just about see the small black pupil in his crazy yellow eye. Who knew that such an exotic creature lived right here in Framingham?

hooded merganser face front
Like most people, at first I assumed his head was a puffy round ball. But instead it is shaped like a dinner plate! Tom saw this picture and said, 'I knew he reminded me of someone. It's Don King, the fight promoter!'

Hooded Merganser Sudbury River two 1 2010
Too many pictures of one bird? I know it, but this is a thrill for me. Not only did I see him, I also managed to get decent pictures! (BTW, I only posted a quarter of the images captured!)

hooded merganser pupil
Another shot that almost shows the pupil. He was pretending he didn't see me, or pretending that I didn't bother him.

5 comments:

  1. OOOOO, I am so envious (in a good way) that you got so close!
    Good job!

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  2. Thank you Andy! That is high praise from someone as skilled and talented as you!

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  3. ...never too many pictures of this bird for me! You are a lucky duck. I've never been able to get that close. They just pass through here it seems...tempting me from a distance. Half the time when I'm looking at them through the spotting scope they are blowing raspberries at me while they laugh... One of these days one will slip up and come in close (in my dreams).

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  4. Awesome images! Good shots of hoodies are hard to get since they are usually very shy and try to hide as soon as they are aware of an observer.

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  5. Great series of pictures. I really like the middle one where the bird is looking at you.

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