On Feb 14, Karen Irving and Duncan McLellan saw a tight flock of 60 Common
Mergansers, all alternate-plumaged males except for four females, on the
Fraser River at Deas Island Regional Park in South Delta. As it's awfully
early for the herring and oolichan runs, each several weeks away, and
usually waterfowl and seabirds that pile in here for those runs don't
usually migrate until they're over, has anyone any guesses for a) such a
large concentration and b) such a heavy male presence (obligatory bonding
joke here)? Inland bodies of water were ice-free at the time.