Cornell Lab’s BirdCast resumed posting live migration tools on March 1, noting on the Migration Dashboard for New York County that among the expected nocturnal migrants this time of year we should look for Red-breasted Mergansers. And, sure enough, a Red-breasted Merganser showed up in our local waters.
On the early morning of March 6 in Inwood Hill Park, I observed a sole Red-breasted Merganser exploring the Salt Marsh. It seemed like a happy solo tourist taking the same comfortable route every year. It spent some time in the active stretch of Spuyten Duyvil, preening its excellent plumage, before tooling around the more placid waters of the main inlet. The tide was then rising.
The continuing Mallards and gulls seemed to eye it with some curiosity. The swiftly moving Red-breasted Merganser occasionally dived into the waters and startled the ducks and gulls with its underwater explorations and subsequent resurfacing. I have always wondered how birds accustomed to a particular ecosystem react to the visitors. I think they may have adapted to expect these seasonal visitors just as longtime New Yorkers react to an influx of tourists at certain times of the year.
Springtime always surprises when it arrives. We’ve been so accustomed to our winter apparel that it comes as a bafflement when we don’t need the big coats anymore. We may still need to toss on the coat for a few days. Yet, it’s time to welcome Red-breasted Mergansers. Also, welcome to the Red-winged Blackbirds and the grackles, and whoever else alights on a springlike morning in March. See March 2025 sightings.
See also this related post from January 2024 about a Red-breasted Meganser from last winter.
New resources page
For those interested in birdwatching in general and NYC specifically, I’ve created a beginner’s list to helpful online guides and organizations. The new Resources for Local Birding in NYC page includes links to the various projects of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and to local organizations such as the Wild Bird Fund and NYC Bird Alliance. Find it in the menu items at the top of the page.
Recent posts
- Observing Birds Outside the Window: The Comforts and Surprises of Birdwatching During a Winter Storm
- A Thanksgiving with Hawks and All the Birds of Inwood
- Easy Fall Birding with White-throated Sparrows
- The Birds for Our New York City Moment
- Fall Birding Falls Into Place: Notable Birds of Inwood During Mid-October
Birds of Inwood 
Comments welcome!