[Tweeters] Common Mergansers vs Kokanee

[Dennis Paulson]

Eric, that’s the sort of stuff that makes it worth keeping Tweeters alive. Those are fabulous videos, and I had no idea a merganser could swallow a fish that large. Could you tell us where on Lake Whatcom this is?

Dennis Paulson
Seattle


> On Dec 27, 2023, at 1:34 PM, Eric Ellingson <esellingson at gmail.com> wrote:

> 

>   Watch slow-motion footage of chasing, stealing, fighting, splashing, and lots of action as Kokanee head upstream to spawn while being chased down for food. Common Mergansers, gulls, and Double-crested Cormorants attempt swallowing whole, often still alive and fighting, Kokanee. Other birds such as Bufflehead and American Dippers search for the spawned eggs to eat. 

>   Look for the failed attempts of a Double-crested Cormorant to catch and swallow a small Kokanee. Later it does a sneak attack by diving underwater and then surfacing just underneath a gull that has the fish partly in its mouth. Who will win?

>   Watch the eggs of a fat female Kokanee have its eggs squeezed out as it is being swallowed.

>   This is an event I've witnessed on Lake Whatcom for a few years now. In prior years I've photographed this wild kingdom event. This year I played with slow-motion video to tell a better story. I hope you enjoy it.

> 

> Watch it here. https://flic.kr/p/2pp1ABZ <https://flic.kr/p/2pp1ABZ>

>   

> Cheers

> 

> 

> Eric Ellingson

> 360-820-6396 <tel:360-820-6396> 

> esellingson at gmail.com <mailto:esellingson at gmail.com>

> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/ <https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/> 

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