Merlin, mergansers and strange Hooded merganser behaviour

[Anonymous]

There were 10's of thousands of mergansers in Port Hope yesterday morning. I watched them approach from Cobourg and when they were passing me in Port Hope I could still see flocks approaching from Cobourg. I also saw a hooded merganser in the Ganaraska river. It was swimming with a male and female mallard and would not leave their side except for the odd dive for a little food. I went back today and they were still swimming together. Is this normal behaviour for a hooded? Still needs a little parenting maybe? When I was taking pictures of the merganser and mallards, a merlin flew in and landed in the tree right next to me. It was a good morning:)
Hooded and mallards
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p46325482.html
Hooded
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p46325486.html
Merlin
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p46325493.html
Mergansers on the lake, a tiny section of what was passing me.
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p46325483.html
For the scenic fans, the sunrise:)
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p46325489.html
I know this is a birding site, but this is for the sports fans out there:)
Friends of mine moto-crossing
http://wyld-art.fotopic.net/p45928867.html