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ure id="d996"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/1*TQl-4nPr09vdcraoZK1wcA.jpeg"><figcaption>MaleCommon Merganser/Author Photo</figcaption></figure><p id="7b58">According to <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org">All About Birds</a>, it seems they are headed north into Canada for the summer breeding season. So I probably won’t see them again. Our pond was just a rest stop along the long journey.</p><p id="a8fe">Their visit was brief, only for about 30 minutes. Then they were on their way. It provided a little excitement for the morning.</p><div id="bf74" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-trusty-gardener-winter-sowing-update-success-48e3518e1228"> <div> <div> <h2>The Trusty Gardener-Winter Sowing Update-Success!</h2> <div><h3>Kale, Pak Choi, Lettuce, Baby Napa Cabbage and More Have All Sprouted</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*[email protected])"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="a6d3" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/spring-beauty-70eb570f0b55"> <div> <div> <h2>Spring Beauty</h2> <div><h3>A New Awakening</h3></div> <div><p>medium.com</p></div> </div> <div> <div style="background-image: url(https://miro.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:320/1*[email protected])"></div> </div> </div> </a> </div><div id="8380" class="link-block"> <a href="https://readmedium.com/the-trusty-gardener-benefits-of-a-portable-greenhouse-a78012e6190b"> <div> <div> <h2>The Trusty Gardener-Benefits of a Portable Greenhouse</h2> <div><h3>Create a Microclimate for Your Plants</h3>

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A Visit From The Common Merganser

A Pair of Resting Mergansers Migrating North

Every morning I gaze out the window towards the pond to check on the ducks. The 3 buddies, the mini armada.

Normally everything is fairly calm, but sometimes they are playfully chasing each other around the edge of the pond. Who knows why. Today I noticed a pair of mergansers patrolling the pond. They were not phased by the attempts of my ducks to chase them away. They held their own. The ducks are protective of their pond but yielded to this pair.

Male and Female Common Merganser/Author photo

At first, I wasn’t sure of the species. I knew they weren’t ducks since they dove beneath the water, emerging about 30 seconds later. Looking for fish, but unfortunately none of those in our pond. I thought at first they were Common Loons, although we have never seen them in this area. We are familiar with loons from our many visits to the Adirondacks about 2 to 3 hours North of our location in Central New York. I have had them close to the kayak as I cruise around the beautiful lakes there. And of course, their signature call usually heard at dawn or dusk. They look similar to the Common Merganser from a distance but upon closer inspection, they are quite different.

MaleCommon Merganser/Author Photo

According to All About Birds, it seems they are headed north into Canada for the summer breeding season. So I probably won’t see them again. Our pond was just a rest stop along the long journey.

Their visit was brief, only for about 30 minutes. Then they were on their way. It provided a little excitement for the morning.

Birdwatcing
Birds
Ducks
Photography
Wildlife
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