The River Exe – Red-Breasted Mergansers

Red-Breasted Mergansers are saw-billed diving ducks. They’re spectacular in flight.

We’re on a River Exe Cruise with Stuart Line Cruises. It’s sold out, and we were lucky to get two of the last remaining tickets. We’ve pre-ordered hot pasties and they are delicious. There are always blankets for our knees if we wanted to stay still, but I’m too busy prowling the side rails and enjoying the wildlife with my camera.

A male flies past. They’re a sociable species, swimming in pairs, and fishing in the River Exe as we cruise slowly past.

The females are more subtly marked but just as beautiful.

They look slightly bonkers when they raise their floppy crests, but in flight it’s a swept-back featherstyle.

I’m delighted to see them.