by Roy ☯ Hilbinger
Member since:
April 16, 2007

Cliff Walk Vignette 2 - A Mating Dance

March 13, 2008 07:12 PM EDT
views: 153 | rating: 9.8/10 (13 votes) | comments: 15
I came out of the tunnel under the Chinese Tea House and up the hill a little way and what did I see in the water but a group of Red-Fronted Mergansers. After watching them for a little while I saw the males making odd movements and finally figured it out - it's mating season, and they were doing the mating dance.

Here is the group of Mergansers, male and female (the males are the colorful ones) swimming serenely along:http://media-files.gather.com/images/d766/d630/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d769/d630/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

Here are the two males swimming along showing off how beautiful they are:
http://media-files.gather.com/images/d772/d630/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d774/d630/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

But in between the stretches of serenity the males break out in the oddest dance steps:
http://media-files.gather.com/images/d779/d630/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d784/d630/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

http://media-files.gather.com/images/d786/d630/d744/d224/d96/f3/full.jpg

I wonder if our human mating rituals look as comic to other species as theirs look to us? LOL!!! The cosmos has unlimited sources of entertainment!
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Comments: 15

Margay R. Mar 13, 2008, 6:28pm EDT
That's a great photo essay!
Jimmie (Hey! Let's Gather!) Harris Mar 13, 2008, 7:23pm EDT
A wonderful photo essay... thanks for sharing it with us!
Nanina Hawk Mar 13, 2008, 7:43pm EDT
Roy, this is fascinating, thanks for sharing this with us. I don't know if we look comical or not. But I am glad we don't have to wait for a season. Wonderful photo essay.
Cheryl B. Mar 13, 2008, 7:51pm EDT
Another sign of spring. Hallelujah! Thanks for the photo essay. :)
*Holly *. Mar 13, 2008, 10:44pm EDT
Awesome essay!
Sue M. Mar 13, 2008, 10:48pm EDT
That's so cool, Roy! Thanks for sharing this with us, as I'll probably never have a chance to watch a mating dance of the Mergansers! Thanks for posting to *My Bird Macro* !
Roy ☯ Hilbinger Mar 13, 2008, 11:30pm EDT
Thanks all! This was pure luck. I hadn't seen any waterfowl at all from the moment I entered the Cliff Walk, and here I was more than half done when I saw these guys swimming around. I got out the telephoto and as I was doing that I saw the males start into bobbing their heads and I knew what was up. So I planted myself for a while LOL!!!
Lisa K. Mar 14, 2008, 1:14pm EDT
Wonderful photo essay. I haven't been to the Cliff Walk in years. You make me want to plan a trip.
Mariana T. Mar 14, 2008, 11:25pm EDT
Our human mating rituals must look good and funky to these highly spirited ducks - they are gorgeous...thanks so much for posting this delightful photoessay to Salud.
Salud.
j - Frugal Mom - r. Mar 15, 2008, 8:14pm EDT
Great photo essay Roy. It looks like spring is coming your way. Congratulations on your front page feature.
Harsha H. Mar 15, 2008, 8:27pm EDT
A very nice photo essay Roy! Couldn help but click when it was on the front page. Congratulations!
Roy ☯ Hilbinger Mar 15, 2008, 10:49pm EDT
Holy mackerel, look at that! I'm on the front page. I guess that proves it - sex DOES sell!
Nanina Hawk Mar 15, 2008, 11:50pm EDT
LOL, Roy, I guess sex does sell, congratulation.
elizabeth e. Mar 16, 2008, 7:30am EDT
What a great walk to take this Sunday morn with you, Roy. I love the Japanese little Tea House and have sat inside many of times eating a picnic lunch when we were showing the Mansions to folks out of state. The Cliff Walk is quite enchanting and lucky for you that you found "feathered gold" during your walk.

Hey, Congrats for making the front page of Gather.
elizabeth e. Mar 17, 2008, 9:59pm EDT
Guess somebody thought this was porn, Roy......imagine giving you less then a 10!

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