Common Merganser at Ashbridges Bay: November 5, 2020

Despite the name, the Common Merganser is the least common of the three merganser species that I see around Toronto.

Common Merganser (female)

Female Common Mergansers look a good deal like female Red-breasted Mergansers:

Red-breasted Merganser (female)

Common Mergansers females are somewhat larger, have a less shaggy crest and may be distinguished by the round white spot on the chin, contrasting with the reddish head and neck:

Common Merganser (female)
Common Merganser (female)
Common Merganser (female)
Common Merganser (female)
Common Merganser (female)
Common Merganser (female)

Photos from previous walks:

left to right: Common merganser (female), Common merganser (female), Hooded Merganser (male), Common merganser (male)
Common Mergansers

Other birds:

Long-tailed Ducks (female)
Long-tailed Ducks (female)
Long-tailed Duck (male)
Long-tailed Duck (female)
Long-tailed Duck (female)
Canada Goose
Mallard (female)
Mallards

Species list: mute swan, Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, gadwall, red-breasted merganser, long-tailed duck, bufflehead, common merganser, ring-billed gull, downy woodpecker, black-capped chickadee, American robin, ruby-crowned kinglet.  (14 species)

Park scenes:

Some botany:

Silver Maple (Acer sachharinum)
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Spindletree (Euonymus europaea)
Austrian Pine needles
Hawthorn (Crataegus)
Kentucky Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioicus)
Kentucky Coffee-tree (Gymnocladus dioicus)

Today’s group;

NATURE POETRY

On random wires the rows of summer swallows
Wait for their liftoff.
They will soon be gone
Before All Saints’ and before All Hallows’
The changing time when we are most alone.         – May Sarton (1912–95

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Common Merganser at Ashbridges Bay: November 5, 2020

  1. Gloria James

    I didn’t know there was such a variety of water birds in Toronto. Good news! I like the phrase in the poem “wait for their liftoff”.

    Reply

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