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Common Merganser


Common Merganser
Photo Information
Copyright: Manyee Desandies (manyee) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3067 W: 231 N: 6168] (21076)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-09-15
Categories: Birds
Camera: Canon Powershot S3 IS
Exposure: f/3.5, 1/1600 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2007-09-15 22:42
Viewed: 664
Points: 34
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This afternoon, we were invited to a birthday party held on a beach in Santa Cruz. There was a small river that flowed through the beach before emptying itself into the sea. I noticed a flock of brown pelicans assembled there and I got my camera and went there (photos to follow). Amid all the pelicans and gulls, a flock of female common mergansers were swimming around... and I was able to take a few shots. I was there for over three hours taking pictures before I realized that I had completely missed the party. How rude!

Common Merganser (Female)
Mergus merganser

Grand Harle, Mergo mayor (French)
Goosander (English)

A large diving duck with a long thin bill, the Common Merganser is found along large lakes and rivers across the northern hemisphere. The long bill has toothy projections along its edges that help the duck hold onto its slippery fish prey.

Description
Large, slender diving duck.
Long, thin, orange bill.
White patches in wing visible in flight.
Male with bright white sides and iridescent green head.
Size: 54-71 cm (21-28 in)
Wingspan: 86 cm (34 in)
Weight: 900-2160 g (31.77-76.25 ounces)
Sex Differences
Male boldly patterned with white sides, black back, and green head. Female dull gray with reddish head and white chin.

Sound
Silent except in courtship when male makes a hoarse croaking, a twanging sound, or a bell-like note. Female makes a harsh "gruk." Wings produce a rushing noise in flight.

Cool Facts
The Common Merganser usually nests in tree cavities, either those made by large woodpeckers or from where a limb broke off. It will also use a nest box. Infrequently a Common Merganser might make its nest in a rock crevice, a hole in the ground, a hollow log, in an old building, or in a chimney.
Young Common Mergansers leave their nest hole within a day or so of hatching. The mother protects the chicks, but she does not feed them. They dive to catch all of their own food. They eat mostly aquatic insects at first, but switch over to fish when they are about 12 days old.
Gulls of various species often follow flocks of foraging Common Mergansers. The gulls wait for the ducks to come to the surface with fish, and then they try to steal their prey. Occasionally even a Bald Eagle will try to steal a fish from a successful merganser.

Source
Alex99, uleko, sandpiper2, Silke, Jonas_Schmitt_, Evelynn, MMM has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Evelynn: Thanks for the Critique : )manyee 1 09-16 09:50
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Manyee, splenid shot, what a beautifull colors, very good focus whith many details, I like so much the light intot his eye,
well done,
friendly,
Pat

  • Great 
  • Alex99 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3596 W: 143 N: 5696] (18621)
  • [2007-09-16 0:26]

Hi Manyee.
What a cute bird you have pictured. I like this little birdy so much. It look, pose are great as well as the reproduction of whole scene. Very nice colours, excellent lights, perfect sharpness and blameless composition. TFS and best regards.
Alexei.
I'll be back in an hour.

  • Great 
  • uleko Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3002 W: 162 N: 991] (2901)
  • [2007-09-16 0:41]

Hello Manyee,
Very fine capture of this cute little Meganser
popping up out of the water. Pretty sharp, beautiful light and lovely colours. Well composed too.
TFS and regards, Ulla

Hi Manyee,
Beautiful shot with great colors and focus, very well done
TFS
Friendly
Jean-Michel

hi manyee
good note
frame colors and focus are perfection
good job
aleks ;)
bye

  • Great 
  • pvs Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1168 W: 261 N: 3035] (13835)
  • [2007-09-16 2:07]

Hi Manyee,

A nice and colorfull capture,this merganser really shows a proud expression in his face,well captured with good detail,sharpness,well done and tfs

Paul

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2411 W: 94 N: 5569] (17712)
  • [2007-09-16 2:49]

Hello Manyee,
Very beautiful colours and light. Great sharpness and focus. Good composition.
Regards,
Peter

Moody image, Manyee,
Well composed.
TFS
Annick

Ha ha, Manyee that person will probably never invite you to their party again. But I would have been tempted to do exactly the same. Funny how time flies when you have subjects to shoot.
Great sharpness and the colours contrst really well with the silvery water.

Chris

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  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 727 W: 98 N: 1694] (5406)
  • [2007-09-16 7:07]

Amazing details in the feathers of this creature! She looks like she is sporting a punk hairdo!
Great capture and funny story -- I think we've all done that at some point or other.
TFS
silke

Hi!
Fantastic picture of this sooo cute animal!I like its positioning and the sharpness very much.The colors are good and I loike the depth and your point of view!
Tfs,Jonas

You are too funny. No one is going to accuse you of being a "social butterfly"... so to speak. I think you have contracted the dreaded photography bug. No known cure... yet.

This is a slightly different pose for a merganser. In all my merganser shots they are swimming along with their saloned moussed coifs sticking far out parallel to the water on the back of their heads. Is this one young???

It is a nice, sharp image with an interesting reflected color to the water that tones nicely.


TFS
Evelynn : )

  • Great 
  • MMM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 924 W: 0 N: 1995] (8957)
  • [2007-09-16 17:00]

Hell oManyee
Very impressive image and composition.The image is very sharp whit lovely detaisl and colors.I like that catch light in the eye.
TFS Michel

  • Great 
  • kjpweb Gold Star Critiquer [C: 332 W: 86 N: 1084] (4788)
  • [2007-09-16 17:11]

Hmm - I guess, you're not being invited next time? - Well you would go shoot photos anyway, huh? Very nice image of this Ganser.
Well done and thanks for blowing the party! Cheers, Klaus

Outstanding! Really nice POV and you have captured great detail.
Best wishes,
Achim

Hi Manyee,
Very nice shot of this merggy. I think I'm with you on this one, I myself probably would have been to absorbed in my photography and forgotten all about the party to. :)

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1381 W: 126 N: 5246] (23469)
  • [2007-10-21 3:43]

Hello Manyee ! Very good shot of a Merganser, very sharp and clear image, I love the light in its eye and the proud attitude of the bird. Well done, thanks.

Mario

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