Time for an Erie County waterfowl/waterbird break with recent content of 3 species of duck + 1 of grebe, starting with lucky (i.e., relatively close) shots of a beautiful/amazing female Hooded Merganser on Presque Isle Bay:
Horned Grebe in non-breeding plumage off South Pier:
Female or immature Red-breasted Merganser in flight between North and South Piers:
Male Mallard on a pier at Presque Isle State Park:
Female or immature Red-breasted Merganser on the breakwater off the east end of South Pier:
Two Red-breasted Merganser in flight:
Male Mallard takeoff, rear view:
Female Mallard takeoff, rear/side view:
Another view of the Merganser @ South Pier breakwater. Note the Zebra Mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) (invasive) on the vertical rock surface below the duck:
Finally, while many birds take flight when startled, diving ducks have another option, as captured in this fun sequence of female Hooded Merganser off the Waterworks pier area:
Coming up soon, under a blood red moon!