On this day in Spring Lake I saw a lot of
Red Breasted Mergansers
A slim diving duck, it looks a bit like the Common Merganser but is smaller.
Both sexes have shaggy, spikey crests rather than a sleek head.
dives frequently looking for fish.
I only see the Mergansers during the winter.
I think this is a female with a female Hooded Merganser nearby.
These are both female, I don't know if I saw or photographed any males.
The males heads are dark green and they have a very distinctive white ring around their necks.
Did all of the girls desert the boys?
These are diving ducks...more often than not, I get this!
Hello Debbie,
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of the Red-breasted Mergansers.
They are pretty diving ducks. Thank you for linking up and sharing your critter post. Take care, have a great weekend.
I love your photos Debbi, so sharp and clear. Looks like you had fun taking them and that comes through in these beautiful shots. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteLove the fun duck photos! Happy weekend! It's a sunny pretty day here 🌞
ReplyDeleteWe used to see Red-breasted Merganser families frequently in my northern canoeing days. Just one family per lake, the young ones swimming along all in a line behind the parents.
ReplyDeleteIt would be such fun to watch them diving. Super shots as you usually show us!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely sighting! Red-breasted Mergansers are such fascinating ducks, especially with their spiky crests. It’s always interesting to observe their diving behavior—sometimes they seem to vanish just as you’re about to snap a photo! I wonder where the males were hiding that day. Thanks for sharing these wonderful captures!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are having a great weekend. You are invited to read my new post: https://www.melodyjacob.com/2025/03/the-breathtaking-adventures-we-had-in-glencoe.html
Thank you
Aww nice sightings and photographs Debbie, thank you.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/
Love mergansers. They look like they need their top notch feathers groomed.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos of the Red-breasted Mergansers! They're such elegant birds.
ReplyDeleteThat disk butt is usually what I get when photographing them. You got some awesome shots there. It will not be long before you start seeing some other waterfowl as they make their way north!
ReplyDeleteIt really is a challenge to take good bird pics! You did great and look at those hair dos! They've outdone themselves! Happy Sunday! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like it was a girls day out, maybe they left the guys at home with the kids, LOL! I like their cool spikey heads. I had to laugh how you usually catch their back ends :)
ReplyDelete