Here is a first sighting for me. I finally saw a hooded merganser family.
I had to wade into some muddy reeds to get a decent shot of them.
It was worth getting a bit muddy to see the babies practicing how to take off flying on water.
Not enough feathers buddy, but soon you will be able to take off from any body of water easily.
Mom was off diving somewhere and the babies collected together on a log.
Now they spotted mom and rushed over her to her branch.
They sure can leap out of the water easily.
Now they are safe and sound, the mom was keeping an eye out on me though.
I'm sure I looked too clumsy trying to step on reeds instead of mud for her to worry too much.
Now its general grooming time.
Now its off to explore the swamp some more. They really blend in well here as the babies even has water bubble white spots on their backs and they kind of look like just another log poking up out of the water when huddled together. I was hoping to see the father but maybe they don't stick around after the babies are born. Or he was off fishing somewhere in deeper waters.