Female Common Merganser on Reflected Water

A female common merganser swimming through water reflecting the surrounding greenery. The image captures the bird’s distinctive chestnut head, slender red bill and calm movement… Expand

Female Common Merganser on Reflected Water

A female common merganser swimming through water reflecting the surrounding greenery. The image captures the bird’s distinctive chestnut head, slender red bill and calm movement across the surface.

EXIF Canon EOS 90D EF100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS USM 400 mm 3200 1/1000 s f/5.6 2025-09-09 17:09
I was sitting beside the Ätran at Vekaforsen in Hillared, recording a slow-TV episode, when this female common merganser appeared. On a mainly clear afternoon, it felt like an episode of Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner—only without Wile E. Coyote, and on water. A wonderful bird, with plenty of attitude.