Four images of a female Common Merganser, our largest Merganser. I found this Merganser at the same location where two days earlier I had encountered a female Merganser trying to swallow a huge Catfish (see http://www.pbase.com/image/132478703 ) I suspect that this is the same Merganser as there appears to be only one around.

Top image: The Merganser is resting on the edge of the ice along an open stretch of water. It seemed well fed (probably the Catfish) and it looked well groomed with not a care in the world.


The Merganser slowly got up and looked around. I suspect that it hasn't spotted me yet.


The Merganser then takes to the water and slowly swims away from me. As it spots me with my camera, it starts to paddle faster and faster towards an overpass.


As I take a few paces forward, The Merganser suddenly puts on the afterburners and disappears into the shadows of the overpass just as I pressed the shutter.