Red-breasted Merganser at Newport Wetlands (1 Viewer)

Visited the Newport Wetlands NNR today with the hopes of seeing the pair of Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator and I was not disappointed. Although the weather was hopelessly cold and very windy with quite a heavy shower or two the birds showed reasonably well on the 'hide lagoon' at Uskmouth, I was fortunate enough to see the birds when they came down towards the hide and managed some record photo's of both sexes.

It's always most interesting to spend time with a new species (although I saw the species at Llandegfedd Reservoir some years ago it was at a distance) and this sawbill can cover a pretty decent distance under water. The pair never venture far from one another, obviously the hormones are also kicking in now and they should be heading for their breeding grounds soon, it was an unexpected treat to see them on the lagoons where they have been this last few days, I'm sure that once the winds ease they will be off.

Red-breasted Merganser are more likely to be seen in Gwent during Spring or Autumn rather than mid-Winter, I like them, their super birds :t:

Great photos Bill! :t:

These both look like immature males. The female looking bird has a very dark mark around the eye which looks like it is starting a late moult into it's male plumage.

Nice photo's Bill

Chris Jones

Can't say I disagree Chris, I was aware that 'the male' was not showing any distinct white collar and the head was not exactly as the guide books suggest, I had read that adult females often show variable amounts of black on lores and around eyes. I considered that immatures could well account for them hanging around, but I understand the females can still be incubating in early to mid July, so this would suggest there would be time to move onto breeding territory (do they still breed on the mid and north Wales coast? Lots of persection by fishermen with the species as with Goosander).

Thanks for your input, I think most people that have viewed the birds have assumed they are a pair, you might have answered a few of my nagging doubts about plumage - but it was a miserable day yesterday and the awkward b****rs kept getting wet