Hooded Mergansers

The forecast sunlight hadn’t even appeared by the time I reached Port Orchard on my Monday excursion, though it peeked through the clouds several times in the hour I was photographing there, which must account for some of the weird bluish-gray lighting in these shots. There were actually more birds at the Port Orchard Marina than I’ve seen so far this year, but I particularly focused on the Hooded Mergansers because it’s the first time I’ve seen more than a single pair there this year.

This pair greeted me as I entered the Marina.

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At first I thought this bold male was by itself,

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but before long this female emerged a short ways away with a shrimp in her mouth and hurried away,

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though it was hard to tell if she was hurrying away from me or from the gull that flew down just as she emerged from the water.

Although I try not to disturb the birds I’m photographing, it’s hard not to be pleased when the bird you’re photographing doesn’t feel comfortable with all the attention and decides to leave

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in a hurry

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and not just diving and swimming away like most of them do when they feel threatened.