Pond Charmer

 Oil on Panel - 4 x 4 inches.

     Male Hooded Mergansers have interesting mating dances, they’re worth a look on youtube and may make this bird memorable, especially if you've never seen one. This particular lone merganser visited my neck of the woods just after 7 am on Monday, April 29th. I was able to take several photos while disguised in dark clothing and hiding behind trees. The noise of the wind, rain, and rushing creek helped too, but I am quite certain this duck knew of my presence even though I oftentimes like to think I'm invisible. It is arrogant, or perhaps delusional, but sometimes I get lucky. 

     Luck allowed me to blend in with a tree, so much so that I became a tree while photographing this bird. Soon, two gray squirrels were at my feet. Not wanting to get squirrelitis (is that a thing?), I was going to have to move because I didn’t want them realizing I wasn’t a tree after it was too late. This meant sacrificing my cover. But it was either that or my life. Okay, I’m being dramatic here, but I sorta kinda thought that. The bottom line was that I wasn’t going to allow either of those squirrels to touch me ... no matter what. So, I nudged my right shoe, my faithful squirrel deterrent, three inches to my right. And that was that. The squirrels bolted and the merganser flew away. I was exposed, and it came as no surprise. Had nothing happened, this story would’ve been the tallest tale ever. 

     Stay wild my friends.


Copyright notification: The internet is a scary place. I have seen my artwork on unauthorized websites. This is called stealing, also known as copyright infringement. The only authorized websites allowed to display my artwork are www.beccamulenburg.com, www.beccamulenburg.blogspot.com, and galleries currently showing my work. Any other website, posting, sales of my work, or the like, is illegitimate and operating under copyright infringement which is against the law. This includes Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Amazon (worldwide), and more. Please be aware. Copyrights do not transfer with the sale of any of my artworks.


Location: Duluth, MN 55811, USA

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