Let me know when that tide's coming in won't you

Let me know when that tide's coming in won't you

Thursday 31 December 2015

Red-breasted Merganser

The final bird to make it onto my year list was the Red-breasted merganser. This bird seen at West Kirby marine lake took my total for the year to 181 different bird species seen, beating my previous best total by 6 from last year.

A common visitor to the UK coastline in the winter months, this is only the second time that I have actually come across one. Just shows you what you can find if you put your mind to it.
I was aware that a few of these were around the Wirral, so I made a special visit to see them. Great looking diving ducks with a nice spiky hair do and serrated bill to help with their diet of mainly salmon and trout.

Pictured here is the female. Quite similar to the female Goosander in clolouration and overall appearance. Unfortunately it was yet another dull grey day, so the colours are not great.
Still it pushed my year total up, so I'm happy with that. I now have a new target to beat in 2016.

I wish you all a Happy New Year. Here's hoping it's a great one! :-)





6 comments:

  1. They have such a unique profile. Happy birding in 2016!

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  2. Looking forward to more birds in 2016...Happy New Year...!!

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  3. Enchanting !
    Happy New Year :-)
    Greetings from Germany

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  4. She's beautiful! I wish you a happy new year 2016!

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  5. I love her "hair"! It's amazing what a variety there is in nature. Thank you for sharing with us at Photo Friday! Have a great new year!

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  6. This is a species that is very common on the Great Lakes in winter. It would be hard to miss on any visit to the north shore of Lake Ontario.

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