Copyright ©2021 Deborah M. Zajac. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Late in January, I heard there was a Red-necked Grebe in Lake Tahoe and it’s a bird I’ve never seen so wanting to get out of the house between storms He-Man and I drove over there for a walk-about and see what we could see. No grebe anywhere, but I did see a small group of Common Mergansers, and one that didn’t look quite like the others, but looked like a Merganser. I made some images and when I got home uploaded the images and discovered to my delight the one in the group that was a little different was a Red-breasted Merganser Male. A new bird for me, and Lifer number one for 2021!
They weren’t doing much of anything when I saw the group. I think it was a bit early and they were still waking up. 😀
Fun facts about them gleaned from my favorite source allaboutbirds.org
- The Red-breasted Merganser breeds farther north and winters farther south than the other American mergansers.
- Red-breasted Mergansers don’t acquire breeding plumage until they are 2 years old.
- Red-breasted Mergansers need to eat 15 to 20 fish per day, which researchers suggest means they need to dive underwater 250–300 times per day or forage for 4–5 hours to meet their energy needs.
- The oldest recorded Red-breasted Merganser was a female, and at least 9 years, 6 months old when she was shot in Alaska, the same state where she had been banded.
That’s a lot of diving and foraging isn’t it!
I hope you all a lovely week-end!
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more to come…
Circadianreflections Blog 
Congrats! I think I’ve seen them this year. My yearly list run together because we bird the last day of the year. I remember ever seeing a male in breeding colors a d for good reason. 😊
What a splendid little guy! Stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing!
Thank you so much, Teagan! Isn’t it cute. I was chuffed to see it.
Cool! You know I hear about that bird from Clyde. Have a great day!
Thank you! No, doubt the Birdman has filled you in about them! 😂
Oh yes!
Congratulations! It is really cool and I love the hair-do! Great captures!
Thank you so much, Denise! It’s a pretty cool looking bird isn’t it. 😀
These shots are beautiful, such a handsome fella! Congrats on a new lifer, Deborah!!
Thank you so much, Donna! I know you know how excited I was. 🥰
Nice find. Always nice to get a first timer shot; with me most birds are first timers!
Thank you so much, Gordon! I remember when the Bay Area birds were all lifers for me! It’s always exciting to see even the usual suspects. 😀
Interesting how you hear about birds in a specific area and you head out to try to see them, Deborah. What are the chances? I do notice birds on my walk more since I met you. Great capture the “Male Red-breasted Merganser” Hungry birds!🙂
There’s a site called ebird.org that I follow and post on. If you sign up for alerts you get notified of bird hotspots and sightings. It’s pretty cool.
Thank you so much, Erica! I’m so glad you’re noticing more birds! That’s fantastic! xx 💕😀
That unkept looking ‘hair’ and long slender beak is quite striking. You captured some terrific photos!
Thank you so much, Jennie! 😀
You’re welcome, Deborah. 🙂
Those eyes sure do stand out! Congrats on Lifer #1 for 2021, Deborah!! 🙂
They do don’t they! Thank you so much, Amy! 💕
I’ve never seen one so thanks for sharing. He looks like he has an attitude and I know he sports quite a feathered do. Good catch.
Thank you so much, Judy! Now that I know what he looks like and where they hang out I hope to see them again. Maybe you will too as it hangs out along the US coastlines in the non breeding season.
I think that many fish calls for DoorDash or something similar at least for a change of pace. 🙂 Nice catch, Deborah, so to speak. I think Mergansers are very interesting-looking.
janet
Aren’t they cool birds. I love the Hooded Merganser mating dance moves. Thanks, Janet! Have a great week-end! 😀💕
Haven’t seen those moves but they have such a different look. I hope your weekend’s a good one as well.
Every time I see a Merganser I hear Woody Woodpecker.
That is cultural conditioning.
That’s awesome that Mergansers make you think of Woody the Woodpecker! For me I see him when I see images of the Pileated Woodpecker. I’ve never seen one in real life…someday! 😀
Well…yes…obviously Pileated Woodpeckers too…but that crazy merganser hairdo!
LOL! You’re right it’s quite the crown! 😂
It is a wonderful surprise when you go out looking for a lifer and come back with another and you didn’t know you had actually seen it, even if from a distance Deborah. I have had several instances where I have gone after very rare birds and was not till I got home and enlarged the images I found I had seen the lifer I was seeking. It is delightful to find an unexpected lifer species also, this all makes birding all the more exciting.
It does even years later after seeing and photographing a bird I’d never seen before, but life goes on and I forgot to go back and ID the bird. Back in 2009 I think it was I was birding in Mexico and I saw a bird that was new to me, but didn’t get it ID’d until a month ago when I saw another birder post a picture of the same bird. A light went off in my head and I went back to the files in my archive and sure enough that’s the bird I had seen way back then! Still as exciting as the day I saw it…almost. 😂
Thank you so much for the comment, Ashley! I hope you have a lovely week-end.
Handsome fellow. Very nice, Deborah and congratulations!
Thank you so much, Belinda! It was an exciting sighting.
That is a lot of trips for food. Sad the bird was shot. Living long deserves old age.
I know that was so sad.
A lot of trips! Made me tired just reading that. 😀
😊
I rather like the slightly more unkempt look of the RB Merg compered to the suave looking Goosander (oops sorry Common Merganser). Glad to hear it’s a ‘lifer’.
Good description, Brian! I was so excited to see a “lifer” I rarely see a new bird.
Thanks, Brian. Have a great week-end.
250–300 dives a day? That’s amazing. And we complain about having to wait in line for groceries.
I’m glad you spotted a new bird, Deborah. I love the images, especially that last one. He looks like he’s riding out a small storm.
I hope you have a great weekend.
I know right! It was a bit windy, but it wasn’t white caps windy. Thank you! I hope you and The Editor have a good week-end as well.
If ever I thought I had to work too hard, my observation of birds has put me in my place. 🙂
That’s a good way of seeing it Cheryl!
🙂
15 to 20 fish per day? That is definitely a specific diet that requires a lot of work. Fascinating birds.
They do a lot of fishing! They’re extrodinary I think. Thank you so much, Ally!
Enjoy your weekend, too.
Thank you Pit! I wish the same for you and Mary!
I absolutely love it when I come upon mergansers, so I can imagine what a great joy it was to spot this red-breasted male, Deborah. They are often difficult to photograph because as soon as we get close to the water, they start heading in the opposite direction. It’s super that you could capture him so beautifully.
Thank you so much, Jet! It was surprising that there weren’t too bothered by my presence. I was very happy about that! They’re cool looking birds the Mergansers. I’m thrilled to have seen this one finally.
A cute bird indeed.
They are! I’m glad you think so too.! 😀