Valentine’s Day dating

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Valentine’s Day dating

February 14, 2015 by Mike Powell

As I look at this image from last week of a couple of Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus) swimming together, they somehow remind me of a young adolescent couple out for a date on Valentine’s Day. There is an awkwardness in their body language, but the gawky male seems to have a smile on his face, content that he has found someone with whom to share these special moments.

Posted in Birds, Nature, Photography, wildlife, Winter | Tagged Alexandria VA, Canon 50D, Hooded Merganser, Hooded Merganser duck, Huntley Meadows Park, Lophodytes cucullatus, Tamron 150-600mm telephoto, Velentine's Day | 8 Comments

8 Responses

on February 14, 2015 at 6:38 am | Reply Ben Rowe Aperturef64

The male seems to have a surprised look on his face, like is this really happening to me. A great picture for Valentine’s Day.
on February 14, 2015 at 8:46 am | Reply Dina

Perfect! 🙂
Wishing you a Happy Valentine, Mike,
Dina, Klausbernd, Siri & Selma xxxx
on February 14, 2015 at 9:31 am | Reply New Hampshire Garden Solutions

His date has some real crazy hair!
on February 14, 2015 at 1:57 pm | Reply Linda

Beautiful capture, and perfect for the occasion. Happy Valentineès Day to you. 🙂
- on February 15, 2015 at 8:00 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks. The Hooded Mergansers are one of my favorite duck species and I am always happy when I can manage to get shots of them. Getting a couple together is a shot was a real bonus.
on February 14, 2015 at 7:45 pm | Reply svtakeiteasy

Beautiful and fun image Mike! And great hear do on both of them! The look on the male is as if to say “OMG she is next to me and not flying away! Yeah!!” Chris
- on February 15, 2015 at 8:03 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Chris. It seems like many folks can really relate to the male duck in the image–a lot of us have been in an analogous situation.
on February 15, 2015 at 9:54 pm | Reply Birder's Journey

Beautiful – and they look like they are really dressed and coiffed for the occasion!