Hooded Mergansers are regular nesters at McKee-Beshers WMA (Hughes 
Hollow)in Montgomery CO.  I have two records for this year.  On June 12 I 
found 3 large young in the main impoundment-possibly the same family Kevin 
Graff saw on April 29. In late May I saw 5 medium-sized hooded ducklings 
with 2 Wood Duck young in the eastern swamp.  I assume this was the result 
of egg dumping, but since I didn't see any adult with this brood I don't 
know who incubated the eggs.
     I think Hooded Mergansers have always nested here( I have enough 
records of females at the right time), but may have increased recently 
because of all the new Wood Duck nest boxes and the increased habitat 
because of beaver's work flooding more forest which then turns into 
swampland as the trees die.
     Common Mergansers don't nest here-wrong habitat.  They need swift 
running water.  The nest along the Potomac at Violette's Lock(records the 
past two years).

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA