Last night I again spotted a single merganser at Lock & Dam #1 in Minneapolis/St. Paul. I believe it is a common merganser (non-breeding male?) based on the contrast between head and breast and other field marks I've noted over the few times I've seen the bird.
I first spotted a lone merganser at the same site on June 13th and afterward when I went to see the Peregrines. I haven't been back for a few weeks, so was surprised to see it now in late August at the same location. According the the MOU occurrence maps, neither common mergansers (nor red-breasteds) are this far south during the summer. Janssen's book reports June 15th as late for the spring migration and October 2 as the earliest fall arrival. Have other local birders seen this merganser and can confirm it's a common merganser? Is it unusual to have a merganser in Hennepin County through the summer season? Thanks, Diana Doyle Hennepin County
