Birds Superzoom strikes again . . . eagles . . . and some crazy duck (goose?) photos . . .

[Jock Elliott]

Peebles Island today. Bald eagles on the nest.

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Papa showed up:

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cropped:

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cropped:

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stopped by a wildlife viewing area in Brunswick, NY:

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And what is going on in these duck (goose?) photos?

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Cheers, Jock

 

[Luke]

some great shots of the bald eagles on the nest. Really gives one the feeling for how huge the male bird is.

 

[grebeman]

Hi Jock,

The duck is, in the UK known as a Goosander, in the US a Common Merganser. It's a male.

Barrie

 

[Jock Elliott]

Hi Jock,

The duck is, in the UK known as a Goosander, in the US a Common Merganser. It's a male.

Barrie

Barrie,

It looks like it is eating, or attempting to eat, a fish. Is that right? I thought they ate plants.

Cheers, Jock

 

[Luke]

The Merganser does eat fish

 

[davect01]

Excellent series

 

[grebeman]

Hi Jock, as Luke says it eats fish, so its wrestling with lunch. If you look at their bill it's long and narrow with a hooked tip, and serrated edges, giving rise to the slang name of "sawbills".

Barrie

 

[kyteflyer]

Nice shots, Jock. Reminds me that I need to get out more often and as the weather cools a bit, I shall! I love the duck shots, looked to me like he was washing his dinner before consuming!

 

[grebeman]

looked to me like he was washing his dinner before consuming!

The bird is juggling the fish to get it head first so it can swallow it without the spines sticking in it's throat.

Barrie