Swimming with the Petals
Oil on Panel - 4 x 4 inches Hooded Mergansers are infrequent visitors, but I have seen males, females and juveniles on our pond over the years. This female was spotted on June 3rd, a date that coincides with the time of year that crabapple trees drop their pink petals. I watched this lone duck dive for food, preen, swim and sleep for a short while. These cavity nesters are known to be rather secretive, so even if I went searching for its nest, perhaps in an old Pileated Woodpecker hole – to which we have a few, especially in aged/dead birch trees – Mergansers aren’t known to reveal themselves very easily. I’ve been busy painting and finished a couple of larger works which are currently drying. Miniatures have been completed for the annual MPSGS International Miniature Show coming up in November. These and more are waiting in the wings for future postings. Spring came and went rather quickly...