The weather outside hasn’t been good for bird photography today but since I am always behind on editing I thought I’d process this Red-breasted Merganser image that I took in Florida a few years ago.

Red-breasted Merganser lifting off Red-breasted Merganser lifting off – Nikon D200, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 250, Nikkor 80-400mm VR at 260mm, natural light

Of the Mergansers that I have photographed Red-breasted Mergansers are the ones that I have taken images of most often. In Florida I would see them most frequently during the winter through late spring feeding in shallow lagoons or out in the Gulf of Mexico. The “serrator” in their Latin name comes from their serrated bill which is used to grasp the small fish they feed on the “red-breasted” part of their common name is because there breast does turn reddish when they are in breeding plumage. This merganser was in nonbreeding plumage when I photographed it.

I had been kneeling in the water of a tidal lagoon photographing this bird and several Royal Terns that were giving me great views of their mating displays when I noticed that the merganser seemed about to take off in flight so I trained my lens on the Red-breasted Merganser and caught this lift off shot. They sure take off fast!

Life is good.

Mia

Click here to see more of my Red-breasted Merganser photos plus facts and information about this species.