I know, I'll hide with these folks...

I know jack about birds. I know I like to watch them, and I like the challenge of photographing them, but really that's it. I wish someone could tell me why Mergansers are so bloody skittish; given that they can take off faster than anything I've seen on the marsh. Common Mergansers fly off at the drop of a lens cap, anywhere within 200m, and this l'il fella (Hooded Merganser) spent the better part of an hour scooting back and forth across a pond at the Marsh.

Bugsie and I were just about to give up when I heard a splash amongst some geese; they were going to be my default Saturday blip. Seems the geese had dibs on some good pond water, provided good cover, or maybe this Hooded Merganser is the pond activities director - much of the previous hour was spent with Mallards.

At any rate, getting pics was a challenge as it would dart back and forth between the geese, all the time watching my/our every move. Thankfully it hung out for a good 20 min before heading off for further negotiations with the Mallards.