An Uncommon Morning with Common Mergansers
- Susanne Swing Thompson
- Jul 17
- 2 min read
As I pulled the paddle through the calm waters in Potagannissing Bay, a gentle, circular ripple formed to each side of the kayak: right side, left side, right side, left...
And I paused.
Up ahead, I could see small silhouettes outlined in the soft pastel colors of early morning. The little silhouettes then skirted across the water.
Just two days before, I'd watched in awe as a female Common Merganser swam in this area, her 12 ducklings paddling behind her. Sometimes the juveniles were in a neat line, sometimes they were in a clump, and a few times one or two were catching a ride on the back of the mother.
The next morning had revealed a mama and her babies practicing what I thought were speed drills. The ducklings would paddle along in a cluster behind the female, suddenly take off paddling in a flurry, then slow down to a calm pace again. I assumed the mama was teaching her flock some technique against predators -- the most effective means they had for possible escape until they could fly.
But this morning was different.
As I paddled the kayak closer, I observed through my long lens that the silhouettes were five juvenile Common Mergansers, though no parent was in obvious sight this time. Their flurry-paddling was every direction all at once, two or three in a group or five directions at the same time. Then they'd slow down and do a muddled version of reassembly...
...only to burst into speed again. In fact, they paddled so quickly and extended their bills out so far that sometimes their bodies were raised out of the water.
And then I saw it: they were catching insects. The previous day's exercise wasn't about learning prey-avoidance but about predator techniques. Now the baby Common Mergansers were out getting breakfast on their own.
I watched the five juveniles for quite a while and was thankful for the sun's rising to capture images of them in the morning light. I have never seen anything like this and it truly was a gift -- a delightful gift, a sighting I will hold onto for a long time to come.
To view more photos of adult and juvenile Common Mergansers, please click here.
Each Saturday I send a short email (much shorter than this post) called "A Closer Look." It is simply one of my nature photos and a bit of original writing. It's a quiet way to start the weekend and be encouraged to see the intricacies in nature that are right there but that we often overlook. If you would like to receive "A Closer Look," simply fill in the form near the bottom of the Contact/Subscribe page of my website: www.wren-photos.com. Thank you!
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