Hooded Mergansers

I started out a bit late to meet up with the folks for a group bicycle ride.
A log train stopped on a road crossing (see extra photo) sealed my fate.
The group was gone when I arrived, but no worries as I was quite happy to make it a solo photo adventure on my bike.
Coincidentally, I met up with a photographer friend at one of my favorite spots along the bike path.
He mentioned that a pair of Merganser ducks were nearby.
My blip is the rest of this most fortuitously story.