The Common Merganser

Diving - head underwater with an arched back

Sometimes you can get lucky enough to see them standing as high in the water as they can flapping their wings to dry out.

Standing on the water

Flapping wings to dry out

Sometimes even rarer you can get them in groups with them all in focus or a classic looking sitting on the water shot.

Group of Mergansers

Classic looking bird with its eye facing the camera well lit and fantastic water

And sometimes you can have the rarest of days standing on a bridge over the Willamette River on a sunny day looking down through clear water to see Common Mergansers diving, swimming, catching fish underwater in groups, coming to the surface, and diving again.

Diving with head still seen under the water