Okay folks, I’ve been holding on to these images since Spring Migration, but never seemed to get this post written. Thus, on one of the bigger migration days (and nights … see BirdCast) of the fall migration I am finally publishing this content to 365DaysOfBirds. I actually like fall migration better than spring because birds are willing to stick around for a while if they mind good food sources, but in the spring our feathered friends are in a rush to get back up to breeding grounds.

In both of these instances I encountered ducks that were extremely interested in mating, Hooded Merganser and Ruddy Ducks. In the case of the Hoodies, the males crests were amazing, and if you watch the video … so were the hormones. The Ruddy Duck had its signature blue bill, which seems somewhat unique in the birding world.

Hooded Mergansers in Love (right in the town of Two Harbors)

A Mating Disagreement! (video link for email subscribers)

Ruddy Ducks (looking for love in a Prairie Pothole)