In an earlier entry I showed the interaction between a male Hooded Merganser with a mate and a one without a mate. On my last visit to Port Orchard I spend over a half hour watching a slightly different interaction: one between two males and an unattached female.
Single males often gather together in small flocks and these two males were obviously hanging out just waiting for a gal to float by.
It was obvious when they spotted a potential mate.
Although they swam right by her, she didn’t even seem to acknowledge their presence,
which seemed to lead to a short discussion between the two males, though I couldn’t quite hear what they were saying.
The males weren’t about to give up, though the female seemed more interested in a good meal, even if she had to catch it herself, than flirting with two bachelors.
Each time they circled the female, the males became more demonstrative.
I really have to learn to speak “Duck.”
Great sequence, Loren!
Thanks, Harry.
Wonderful photos; they definitely tell a story!
We don’t have Hooded Mergansers down in the Russian River area; none that I’ve seen, anyway. Great photos with a dramatic story running through it.
Love these sequence of photos. I think you already do speak duck quite well!