I was able to get outside this past week for some nice birding around a local hotspot. It is still too early for most of our spring birds to have arrived yet but I did get to enjoy some feathered friends.
Here is a Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens). You can see in the photo how it is using specialized stiffened tail-feathers to prop itself up as it searches the tree bark for food. This is a specialization found throughout the woodpecker family. In the second photo you can see an underview of the tail feathers.
There were also five Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) out on a small freshwater pond. They are small freshwater ducks that hunt fish and other small animals (insects, frogs, etc.) The female has a brown hood while the male has a black hood with a large white stripe through it.
There were two pairs and one lonesome male trying to persuade the female to adandon her partner. He wasn't successful and was fended off by her mate. These ducks will be flying north to a more suitable breeding habitat shortly. Here are the males showing off and diving for food.
