On the same trip to photograph the Common Loons, we were traveling down the length of the lake when we saw what appeared to be some kind of merganser with chicks crossing in the glare of the midday sun. It appeared to be too large for a Hooded Merganser which we commonly see near the La Crosse, WI area but what was it?
Upon closer inspection, she was a female Common Merganser. What a great find this was. Not only from a standpoint of species but what an incredible opportunity to photograph her with seven chicks.
Along the Mississippi in the Spring and Fall we will typically see Common Mergansers, but this was a first to actually see chicks! Looking at range maps for the Common Merganser, the northern lakes of Wisconsin are on the far southern extent of their summer breeding area. We were certainly fortunate to see them on this lake.
Here are some of my favorite images from this chance encounter. All taken with the Sony A9 with the Sony 100-400mm f/5.6 + Sony 1.4x teleconverter:
⏤Alan Stankevitz