Common Mergansers in Yamhill County

We do regularly see Common Mergansers here on the floor of the Willamette Valley of Oregon in winter, but the 40 that were fishing in the pond behind the Brigittine monastery today seemed to me an unusually large gathering.  Of course, there were many other expected species of waterfowl there also, including a couple hundred Northern Shovelers.

On this rainy afternoon the remains of a Northern Oriole's nest from last summer brought back memories of bright, musical mornings.