Hoodies!!

Hooded Mergansers, female on right, male on left

Male with his "hood" raised

We keep a spotting scope set-up right next to our living room window, so we can be birding and looking out over our pond, even when inside. We're seeing migrating Hooded Mergansers on our pond right now. These spunky little ducks dive down and eat fish. We have even had them nest in a bird house that is supposed to be for an owl, but Mrs. Hoodie Merganser didn't know that.
Other migrants being seen in central and southern NH by birders right now are White-winged Crossbills. Click here for photo. We haven't seen any yet but we'll keep looking. Learn their calls as a good way to identify a distant flock in flight.