Yep, there’s always one! The Hooded Merganser duckling on the left is reunited with mom and six siblings after deciding to explore the Azolla-covered Salt Pond on his own (it’s gotta be a boy,right?). I watched in amazement as he paddled far ahead of the mother who was preening while the rest of the brood huddled close together next to the reeds several feet away. He made a beeline far past mom then began to dive for food. I’m thinking he must have been the first one to hatch so he’s ahead of his siblings. Their primary diet is small fish and crustaceans but he came up empty each time he slipped under the water. While mom seemed not to be worried, she must have made a signal because suddenly, the wayward duckling turned and headed back toward her while the siblings left the safety of the reeds and headed toward mom, too. They all arrived back at mom-central at the same time.