A change of pace, for a moment.

For those of you who know me, you know I'm an avid bird watcher. I love to feed them and look and admire them, and of course, hunt them with my camera. I'm blessed to have quite a variety where I live, perhaps not as much as further south, but I've no complaints. Blue Jays by the 30s in the winter, nuthatches, chickadees (hand fed one once!) hummers of course, grosbeaks, woodpeckers (from the great Pilated (HUGE!) to the downy ones, indigo bunting (wicked awesome!) goldfinches, purple finches, robins, sparrows (ALL of them, or so it seems), snow buntings, and many more! I have a ton of feeders, one of which, my fave, is a cast iron mesh black sunflower seed feeder that holds about 5 lbs at a time. Its usually empty in 3 days in the winter and early spring. I started feeding birds in memory of my grampa, and its turned into a passion from the day I moved into my new home, and was greeted at breakfast by 2 curious blue jays on my deck. I put toast out, and they came right back, and we greeted each other every morning for the rest of the summer. I now have a peanut feeder for them in the front. (and they have me well trained to refill it when its empty! lol!)

All this to say, I'm always on the lookout for new birds. I saw my first loon just a few weeks ago, though you can hear them at night when the wind is very quiet. I've seen my first duck (wild) last year, and got up close pics of Canada geese. But this picture, that I wanted to share, is very special. It took a while to figure out what she is. She was crossing the busy highway when we were driving by. My pastor and I both love bird watch so we were out of the van and running after a photo op real quick. She was headed towards a turnoff, where vehicles usually come in pretty fast (as least I do, and so was the guy coming in that day). So my pastor chucked the photo op and stood in the middle of the road, to let mama and her 8? younglings get by safely. The gentleman in the truck looked confused at first, and then laughed when he saw her, and thumbed up my pastor.

Judging by the bad hair day, it must be quite the job to raise so many little ones. I appologize for the poor quality, but this was shot on the quick (and I don't have my zoom lens yet).

So, I present to you, the Common Merganser. I just LOVE the "hair" it cracked me up! and those little ones booted it after mama, no problems following! It was the coolest thing to see! :)




First pic, taken while van was still moving.


She's heading towards clear lake, just beyond those trees.


Them little ones sure are burning rubber! They were SO cute!



Gotta love the hair! LOL! Andy, my pastor, herded her down further towards the lake, and away from the ever present danger of cars.

I am very grateful, for both Andy (who had the presence of mind (unlike me!) to herd her, and stop the traffic. Could have been dangerous for him, but I honestly don't think he gave it a second thought. But he's that kinda guy! And I'm grateful for the pickup driver who stopped. (and "got it" and laughed (as opposed to curse and send hand signals). Thanks guys!

And in case you are wondering, I've never seen her since, but I go through that area almost daily, and I always glance (wistfully) around. I'm going to take my dog to clear lake one day soon when I get my zoom, and we'll go hunting with the lens!