Duck and Dive: Mergansers & Cormorants

It's that time of year where the creek is bustling with ducks of many varieties, including the Hooded Mergansers & Double Crested Cormorants. While Cormorants can be spotted in the Carolinas throughout the year, the Mergansers are migratory birds from the North (Canada). As mentioned in a lower post, the Mergansers voluntarily lift and lower their White crest. The Cormorants rarely show their double crests; the name Cormorants means "sea crow". While I've only seem them individually so far on the creek, when on the barrier island (lea island, not far from Futch Creek) I spotted a huge flying V formation of them (probably 10-30 birds). Both the Mergansers and the Cormorants dive for fish.

Like most birds, this Cormorant flew away as soon as I approached.

This friendly "Hooded" Merganser let me paddle within 6 feet of it, as it seemed to groom itself. It didn't show me it's white hooded crest, but the video clip above shows it pecking at its body.

Great Blue Heron hanging out with a group of Hooded Mergansers. The Mergansers little white heads surround the heron. It appears the heron is hunting, the way its neck is stretched out.

Below: These two Mergansers look to each other before flying away (photo on left)