I saw my first Red-Breasted Mergansers the other day at Boat Meadow Beach, before the big storm. What a gorgeous bird! They were feeding in the little pond that comes out at high tide on the salt marsh. I had never seen one before.

Red-Breasted Mergansers are a medium-sized diving ducks with black upper parts, gray sides, rust-brown breast, white belly, green head, double crests and a white neck ring. Their long thin bill, legs and feet are bright orange. The female has much duller colors.

The Red-Breasted Mergansers were so interesting to watch as they feed. They would swim along with their heads in the water, almost like a shovel,  as you can see in the 3rd photograph. Or they would dive under water for food. It was very cool to watch!

Have you ever seen a Red-Breasted Merganser? Gorgeous bird, don’t you think?