Tag Archives: Mergansers

Snake River Cruiser

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SankeRiverEagle0168click to enlarge

Standing on the banks of the Snake river waiting for something to happen is a pleasant way to spend an afternoon. Its quiet here, the river here is flat, slow and lazy as it forms a big sweeping bend through the pines on its way downstream. The surface is a sheet of glass, mirroring everything above it without a ripple to mar it’s surface. Over near the bank a family of mergansers are squabbling, and soon one takes off in a running pattern across the rivers surface, head outstretched, each foot leaving a small splash as it tries to gain speed for its takeoff.

SnakeRiverEagle0199click to enlarge

Occasionally a trout will jump for a fly but its short lived time spent in another dimension is soon over and it returns to it’s element with nothing to show for its effort but a series of slowly spreading rings that ripple in the sunlight. The river murmurs as the rings reach the bank and send little waves against the moist earth while stems of grass leaning into the water bend slowly and rhythmically with each wave.

SnakeRiverEagle0169click to enlarge

Suddenly, seemingly out of nowhere a Bald Eagle soars slowly around the bend nonchalantly cruising above the river. It slowly flaps it’s wings but mostly glides watching intently for that shadow moving just below the surface. Sometimes you can hear the wind moving through the feathers of it’s wings but not today. Today it is silent. The trout that so recently leapt into the air makes a fatal mistake and moves too close to the surface, it’s dorsal fin breaking through and giving itself away to the hunter above. One quick dive, talons open, the eagle makes contact with the surface, and the fish and it is all over. It leaps back into the air, it’s catch firmly grasped as the hunter wings it’s way to the big pine on the river’s bank.

SnakeRiverEagle0170click to enlarge

Many times these small acts of nature are the biggest part of your day and leave the longest lasting memories.This scene was not only captured by the camera it was indelibly etched into my memories and will surface during quiet times to be enjoyed over and over.

All Redheads To The Front

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Mergansers6397click to enlarge

There are fast ducks and there are slow ducks. These are fast ducks, in fact they look fast just standing still. Slow ducks would be your Mallards, especially the really fat ones you see around the city park. Those are so slow they can’t get out of their own way, 10 mph tops, while these Mergansers are the Formula One members of the duck world. We’re talking open wheels, spoilers, drafting, no fuel restriction Indy cars.  230mph speedsters that only have one way of getting there and that is, Flat out. This young brood decided they needed to determine who was going to sit on the pole this season so everywhere they went it was web feet to the metal and don’t be last. These are fast lane ducks and they don’t have time for idle chit chat, in fact they rarely idle, everything is redline with these guys so if you see them coming just step aside or you’re going to get wet plus you’re going to have all those embarrassing web foot tracks all over your face because these guys don’t slow down. See you in turn one.