Red Breasted Mergansers

At this time of year you can often see quite a gathering of female Red Breasted Mergansers at the west end of the Elie beach. They don’t come close to the shore but they do keep close to the rocks at the base of Chapel Green.

A bit of careful clambering from the grass at the top of the Green over the lichen covered rocks gives the best view of the snoozing birds as they move gently with the incoming tide.

The birds are very similar in appearance to the Goosanders that we see on fresh inland waters whereas the Mergansers stick to coastal sea water.