Hooded mergansers

This morning, when I looked out the parlor window, several flashes of white on the creek caught my eye. I set up the spotting-scope to take a closer look. Hooded mergansers–eleven of them: five males and six females. Distinguished by their conspicuous white head crest, the males displayed their haute couture, vying for the attention of the females, each not wanting to be the odd one out.