...continued from the Captiva Island posts.
Matty and I watched a sweet female Red-breasted Merganser diving and preening at the Ding Darling NWR for a long time. She was very fastidious with her preening, and just as ambitious with her diving! 
Now you see her...
...now you don't!
A female Red-breasted Merganser uses her powerful webbed feet to propel her into deeper waters to search out her prey, small fish. She hunts by sight, so it's no wonder we found her in such clear water...she logged a lot of underwater time!
...now you see her again (which means it's time to preen)!
Excellent series once again. :)
ReplyDeleteAh, another bird I miss seeing! They don't live here in Central PA, but they spend every Winter in the coastal waters and coves and inlets around Newport. One of their favorite haunts there was Newport Harbor.
ReplyDeleteWonderful captures!
ReplyDeleteCool shot of it under water!
ReplyDeleteShe does look a little wet, and look at those red eyes!
ReplyDeleteHi Kelly ..love the photo of her under water...pretty cool!!
ReplyDeleteTerrific images, Kelly! Love the underwater view!
ReplyDeleteOh cool Kelly, that second shot is unique and splendid!
ReplyDeleteSuch pretty orange feet! Lovely series.
ReplyDeleteIt takes a lot of preening to look cool while you're diving!
ReplyDeleteCool captures!
Such experts underwater. Lovely shots of a species I see through the winter but usually at very long range.
ReplyDeleteGreat underwater coverage of the and on the web!
ReplyDeleteWithout doubt,a superb Capture.
ReplyDeleteJohn.
...thanks you for the kind comments. Matty and I could have spent the entire afternoon watching the mergansers, cormorants, and anhingas too...diving. The merganser came the closest, and we could watch every move she made under the water--very cool to say the least!
ReplyDelete