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

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

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:

Photos from previous walks:

Other birds:

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:

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