Today's hooded mergansers (pics included)

[Steve Foss]

Also from the Shagawa River, in the same spot as the goldeneyes. The hoodies were a bit more wary and tended to keep their distance.

However, I had one male hoodie swim within two feet of my face when my face and camera were about six inches above the water, and he suddenly gave me a double take and dumped a load and hauled his waterfowl a$$ out of there! Man, if he only was far enough away so my lens could have focused on him. What an expression he had.

All with the Canon Digital Rebel XT (350D), Canon 100-400L IS at 400mm, iso400, handheld, center-weighted metering

Cruising in toward a female

1/320 at f8, exposure compensation -2/3

Some unexpected competition

f1/640 at f7.1

"Do these feathers make me look fat, honey?"

1/800 at f7.1

[outdoor ran]

Thanks for sharing. I like the 2nd pic the best with the 2 drakes chasing the female. Sweet shot getting the drakes with there hoods in different positions

[Redstormy]

Beautiful shots