Early this morning at Myers Point, while photographing a pair of HORNED GREBES in breeding plumage at the mouth of Salmon Creek, a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS suddenly flew in and landed in front of me, pursued closely by a PEREGRINE FALCON. The Peregrine made a swipe at the male, but was unsuccessful, and circled around right over me and headed south. For about five minutes the female Hooded Merganser vocalized, with a very erect crest, and an eye to the sky, while the male preened. I found it very interesting that they stayed very close to me where earlier in the morning they had kept their distance. Sometimes I wonder if birds use people as safety, knowing that predators are less likely to come near people (as long as they have figured out those particular people aren't predators themselves!). I also heard a COMMON LOON, and saw and heard at least a couple OSPREY. A flock of male COMMON MERGANSERS circled the creek several times.
Happy Spring, Melissa -- Melissa Groo Photography melissagroo.com -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
