Signs of Spring

I have no photos today, but it isn't for lack of trying.  The morning was gray and drizzly, making for lousy conditions.

But, the good news is that just in the past two to three days we've seen redwing blackbirds arriving in numbers.  Today I saw cowbirds and grackles among the redwings.  And, the hooded mergansers are getting real frisky.

I do hope to be able to capture some images of this behavior.  The males puff up their hoods and swim around, then rear their heads back and even rise up out of the water a bit, posturing so as to tower over the rivals.  They chase each other all over the pond.

Meanwhile, the females seem to enjoy slapping the water with their wings, darting back and forth, almost as if they are competing with each other, or perhaps just trying to get the males' attention.