Month: April 2018

One of the biggest draws of Theler Wetlands is that you never know what you will see there. On a recent visit I spotted a single male Red-Breasted Merganser at the beginning of our walk, but it was too far away to get a decent shot.

Luckily, it was closer on our return and was willing to pose, showing off its many-hued plumage

and delightful hairdo.

I was amazed when a second male suddenly emerged from a dive. Then the two started drifting down river

where I hoped to get some closeup shots as they drifted by . I did manage to get a couple of shots

just as a couple approached from the other direction.

Unfortunately I missed the shots of the mergansers as they bolted into flight, the shot I really wanted to capture.

Still, we had a great conversation with the birders that had stopped to see the mergansers.

Local birding seems to have slowed down as winter residents leave and summer residents are still arriving, but it’s impossible to walk Theler Wetlands without being serenaded by the ever-cheerful Song Sparrow.

These fearless troubadours seem indifferent to human visitors and more than willing to pose for the camera.