Red Breasted Merganser query (1 Viewer)

[Scozmos]

Good morning all, went out for my usual wander around Fort George near Ardersier, Scotland and came upon a gathering of red breasted on the back beach. These two look like a female and young male? There are other male birds around and the head is much darker or black, so is this possibly a young brother and sister?

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

male moulting into eclipse plumage, I think...

 

[dragnil]

Remarkable sight for me - I've never seen one out of the water.

 

[Joern Lehmhus]

https://flic.kr/p/2nXCVUW

well, they regularly do in Germany- and also in other countries around North sea and Baltic sea, example in the link above is Oslo, Norway, last year in June...