Hooded Merganser Family at Marais aux Grenouillettes: June 2022

Once again, ebird.org directed me to a fine marsh about a 15 minute drive from Gatineau.

Muskrat
Leopard Frog

Hooded Mergansers are small (18 inches) and long-bodied ducks. They nest in tree cavities. I was fortunate in finding a family.

Hooded Merganser family
Hooded Merganser chicks
Hooded Merganser chick and mother
Hooded Merganser family
Hooded Mergansers
Hooded Merganser chicks

Other birds:

Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Purple Finch (juvenile)
American Robin
Purple Gallinule
Great Blue Heron
Common Grackle
Swamp Sparrow

Some botany:

Flowering-rush (Botumus umbellatus)
dead White Oak
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)
Marsh Hedge Nettle (Stachys palustris)
Canada Thistle (Cirsium pratense)
wild Morning Glory
Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)
Redtop (Agrostis gigantea)
Common Hawkweed (Hieracium vulgatum)
Yellow Sweet-clover (Melilotus officinalis)


NATURE QUOTE

“Il ne sert à rien à l’homme de gagner la lune s’il vient à perdre la terre.” François Mauriac

(roughly – It is worth nothing to Man if the moon is won but the earth is lost)

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Hooded Merganser Family at Marais aux Grenouillettes: June 2022

  1. Catherine Gautry

    You seem to be having lots of fun visiting all these marshes near Gatineau, Miles. Thank you for the beautiful pictures! Sadly this very wise quote from François Mauriac still applies today, with even more urgency.

    Reply

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