Today I am sharing photos of a dapper drake Common Merganser in his finest breeding plumage that I took four mornings ago at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge.
Bathing Common Merganser drake – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I was delighted to see the male Common Merganser bathing in the ice cold water. Unfortunately another merganser swam into view and blocked what could have been my best photos of this drake. These mergansers really splash around when they are bathing. Water was flying everywhere.
The water dripping from the bill of this striking diving duck was appealing to me.
Male Common Merganser at Bear River MBR – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/3200, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I hoped to photograph this male Common Merganser catching a fish. That didn’t happen but it didn’t dampen the excitement I felt by having him in my viewfinder. These long, sleek diving ducks are stunning in their breeding plumage and I am always happy to see them in the winter.
I don’t see this species during their breeding season. In fact, I only see them in the coldest months of the year in northern Utah.
Drake Common Merganser at Bear River MBR – Nikon D500, f16, 1/500, ISO 640, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Since I had this drake Common Merganser in my viewfinder I took quite a few images of him. I hope that I will see more of these saw-billed, diving ducks before winter is over and spring arrives.
It was a joy to have this drake, several other drakes, plus some female Common Mergansers in my viewfinder. I hope to share the female mergansers at a later date.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Common Merganser photos plus facts and information about this species.
Great photos. There were many mergansers yesterday but they are so jumpy. Most left before I even got close in the car. I didn’t know about the earth quake till I got home and saw your post. Yesterday the ice was popping and literally growling. I don’t know if that was earth quake cause or aftershocks. I love when the ice sings when it is cold, but this was loud cracking and growling, probably sheets grinding against each other. I thought it was because it was so cold, it was 3 degrees on my car readings. When the ice popped it sounded like a loud gun shot and all the birds took off!