Sunday, December 11, 2011

Redheads

Juvenile Common Mergansers are a flamboyant lot. According to Pete Dunne they look like "overly made-up dowagers"  * but to me these here look more like bright-eyed punksters. 





The other day I saw three Common Mergansers in an inlet off the CT River. Of course they saw me too and paddled off. So all I got is this parting glance. I had to dive into my archive to come up with the above summer beauties. 



Merry Birding and Happy Holidays!

* Pete Dunne's Essential Field Guide Companion


Thanks for visiting. Please leave a comment.

Posted by at

28 comments:

  1. TexWisGirlDecember 13, 2011 at 1:52 PM

    they are rather punky looking! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Carole M.December 13, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    just fabulous; loving your redheads!

    ReplyDelete
  3. theconstantwalkerDecember 13, 2011 at 2:11 PM

    Wonderful birds to see Hilke.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Bob BushellDecember 13, 2011 at 2:50 PM

    The Mergansers are a beautiful lot, well done Hilke.

    ReplyDelete
  5. UnknownDecember 13, 2011 at 2:54 PM

    They are beauties!! Boom & gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

    ReplyDelete
  6. eileeninmdDecember 13, 2011 at 5:00 PM

    The are beautiful, I love the Mergansers. Great sighting and photos. Happy Birding and I hope you have a Happy Holiday too.

    ReplyDelete
  7. KellyDecember 13, 2011 at 11:09 PM

    haha! Your description of "bright-eyed punksters" is spot on! Love this bird...

    p.s. Love the Snow Buntings in your header too! They are such beautiful birds...

    ReplyDelete
  8. holdingmomentsDecember 14, 2011 at 12:49 AM

    Lovely captures of these beautiful redheads.

    ReplyDelete
  9. ArijaDecember 14, 2011 at 8:14 AM

    Nice to know your dives are so productive, I had to go fishing up my sleeve this week.
    Those young bloods really look too cute with their dyed hair. I hope they used a non-harmfull henna stain.

    ReplyDelete
  10. VickieDecember 14, 2011 at 10:58 AM

    Amazing colors and movement! Fun bird to find.

    ReplyDelete
  11. SpringmanDecember 14, 2011 at 11:17 AM

    I'm down with you on the punkster thing Hilke. David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. His song, Panic in Detroit, is a particular favorite!
    Love your mergansers and thanks again for the Liebster Award!

    ReplyDelete
  12. ramblingwoodsDecember 14, 2011 at 11:41 AM

    I agree with you..I mean look at the cool hair... I was going to put up a barn owl house, but when I contacted Hawk Creek and was explaining our woods I said I have great horned owls here and they said that the great horned would predate any barns...so...I haven't but I would love to....Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  13. jooDecember 14, 2011 at 4:41 PM

    They are so lovely, Hilke!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Adam TiltDecember 14, 2011 at 4:48 PM

    I like the punkster description Hilke. Very apt.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Martha ZDecember 14, 2011 at 10:41 PM

    I rarely come across these guys but always enjoy it when I do. It amazes me how they can navigate a rushing river.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Brian KingDecember 14, 2011 at 11:47 PM

    Beautiful ducks! Their heads are so colorful.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Stewart MDecember 15, 2011 at 6:30 AM

    Hi there - the mergansers are great - they used to breed around a nature reserve I worked on, many, many years ago.

    We don’t have any of the 'saw tooth' ducks in this part of the world.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Australia

    ReplyDelete
  18. PatDecember 15, 2011 at 12:53 PM

    Agreed - your description is perfect! They are beautiful ducks.

    ReplyDelete
  19. mickDecember 15, 2011 at 2:15 PM

    Great photos - those red heads are so colorful and I like the way you have caught the glint of light in the eyes.

    ReplyDelete
  20. NatureFootstepDecember 15, 2011 at 3:41 PM

    lol, never seen them so wild before. Talk about redheads. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. Julie G.December 15, 2011 at 6:00 PM

    Your punkster description brought about a chuckle. So true! Mergansers are always fun to watch. Love the close-up images ... I know they are not easy to approach. Very cool birds and post!

    ReplyDelete
  22. ReenaDecember 15, 2011 at 11:04 PM

    Love these guys ... they do look a bit wild!

    ReplyDelete
  23. NicoleDecember 16, 2011 at 1:14 AM

    Talk about red - they are beautiful ! :D
    That must have been quite a sight :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. Kenneth Cole SchneiderDecember 16, 2011 at 7:38 AM

    Those photos of the mergansers are really dramatic! I'd hate to be a fish with that gang coming after me!

    ReplyDelete
  25. AnonymousDecember 16, 2011 at 5:33 PM

    But isn't that one cute glancing coyly over his shoulder? I agree they look much more like punksters in the summer photo. (That's a very funny comment above -- I can imagine them as a gang too!) (It's hard not to practice anthropomorphism).

    ReplyDelete
  26. Crafty Green PoetDecember 18, 2011 at 3:35 PM

    they've got real character, haven't they?

    Loved your photos of the snowy owl too...

    ReplyDelete
  27. Dawn FineDecember 19, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    Hee hee..they are punky..:) Great shots Hilke..
    and let me know if the twitterfeed RT is working for you now..I redid your link.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hilke BrederDecember 20, 2011 at 1:20 AM

    Thank you so much for your comments! They are deeply appreciated. Yes, Dawn, the twitterfeed is working. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)