The Plunge...

Williamwisephoto Nature Notes is a wildlife, landscape, birding and nature photography blog documenting the beauty, design and wonder of God’s creation. -- "What a wildly wonderful world, God! You made it all, with Wisdom at Your side, made earth overflow with your wonderful creations." Psalms 104 The Message

Hooded Merganser diving duck on a small pond in rural Walton County, Georgia, USA.

​Several Redhead ducks began showing up on the shelter pond in late December; a few months ahead of last season. On January 2, I counted 21 male Redhead, 10 females, and 3 male Hooded Mergansers.
 
Then it happened:  COLD!  Friday, January 3rd – low of 20 degrees; Saturday, 24 degrees; Sunday 33 degrees. Then the plunge! Monday, January 6 – low of 10 degrees! Tuesday, 6 degrees! Wednesday 15 degrees! Thursday 28 degrees!  I had never seen every pond I passed totally frozen over before. Even the large pond behind the shelter froze over with a 1 inch thick layer of ice. 
 
The Readheads all scattered; perhaps to ponds further south, perhaps to open and flowing rivers. Our five resident Mallards and three Mergansers were confined to a ten-foot wide opening in the ice right out the back door of the shelter affording me some great close up shots of the Mergansers that I had never been able to manage before.

The Mergansers were obviously nervous and agitated being confined so close to my presence. They normally move to the far end of the pond away from any human activity. But the little ice whole only gave them two choices: fly off to look for other clear water, or sit tight. They nervously paddled back and forth in their little ten foot opening, frequently dipping their heads in the water to vent their nervous frustration. I got some great shots to add to my life list. Within a few more days the ice melted, the Redheads returned, and the Mergansers had the full pond to once again avoid my presence. 
Walton County, Georgia

Hooded Merganser male and female on ice blue lake in Walton County, Georgia. The hooded merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus, is a species of small duck. Hooded mergansers are short-distance migrants, and they winter in the United States in regions where winter temperatures allow for ice-free conditions on ponds, lakes and rivers.