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We meet migrating mergansers not only at the seashore. On Wednesday a 500-bird flock was on its way towards Pühajärv.

 

Mergansers are the larger kind of  diving ducks: body length around 60 centimetres and the weight of adult birds more than a kilo and a half. In autumn the plumage of males, although black-and-white, is duller. It is quite similar to the plumage of females. The body of females is water-grey, head brown, and we can see the ruffled nape crest only on them. In Arne’s photo a male bird is visible at a distance.

 

Winterers in our coastal waters are numerous if the ice conditions are at all favourable.

 

Observations of mergansers: LINK