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Strange merganser? Northern Virginia, USA (1 Viewer)

gsimonel

Well-known member
United States
I took this photo earlier today at lake Fairfax in Northern Virginia, USA. I saw a male hooded merganser hanging out with some mallards in a different part of the lake--he's been hanging out with them for the past week or so--so my guess is that the bird on the left is a female hooded merganser. What's the bird with her on the right? is it an immature hooded merganser? (I got a great photo of the male, by the way. I'll go ahead and add it to this post.)
 

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There's one male hoodie at Lake Fairfax that's been hanging out with the mallards even thought there are other hoodies on the lake. I think he's sweet on one of the female mallards. Here's a shot (1st photo) of the male mallards laughing at him.

He did this strange routine where he would extend his neck and then crash his head face first into the water. He did this several times. I got a few shots of him in the act. What a goofball.
 

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