A fine November day of warm sun and north breezes found us about a half mile downriver from the Sheffield Covered Bridge, where a couple of female Common Merganser were hunting the river, which is a bit above normal from more than eight inches of rain so far this month. These wary fish ducks swim underwater after their small fry, catching them in their saw-edged beaks. The rusty head and gray body of the female (click to enlarge) are contrasted by the black head and white sidewalls on the male's slim body.
On our return walk we paused on a bend, where we noticed bank beaver home entrances on the opposite bank. A close look shows the recent high-water mark near the bottom of the hole. How they know that's the optimum level to dig a new home, we don't know.
A fine November day of warm sun and north breezes found us about a half mile downriver from the Sheffield Covered Bridge, where a couple of female Common Merganser were hunting the river, which is a bit above normal from more than eight inches of rain so far this month. These wary fish ducks swim underwater after their small fry, catching them in their saw-edged beaks. The rusty head and gray body of the female (click to enlarge) are contrasted by the black head and white sidewalls on the male's slim body.
On our return walk we paused on a bend, where we noticed bank beaver home entrances on the opposite bank. A close look shows the recent high-water mark near the bottom of the hole. How they know that's the optimum level to dig a new home, we don't know.
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