Undesirable Fishermen, Argh !

[Rob G]

So I'm fishing one of my favorite streams and these guys have horned in on me.  This is a first.  I've never seen this many undesirable fishermen before, only very very rarely in the past and no more than one here or there.  I've seen them hunt in a pack way up in the UP Northwoods and they can be hell on baitfish. I'm not a fan of them moving in on my honey hole and btw, don't they know they're not supposed to be this far south ? 

 

 

[John Gillio]

Lost loons?

[Scott Ferguson]

Those are mergansers. 

[John Gillio]

Lots of cormorants around here the past few yrs.

[Mark K]

Common merganzer. Looks like all adult females.  All of Illinois is within their range. I see them all the time when I am trying to photograph eagles.  I have never seen them in summer. in Illinois. 

Common Merganser Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

PowerPoint Presentation (illinois.gov)

 I think they are pretty cool. 

 

[Scott Ferguson]

29 minutes ago, Mark K said:

Common merganzer. Looks like all adult females.  All of Illinois is within their range. I see them all the time when I am trying to photograph eagles.  I have never seen them in summer. in Illinois. 

Common Merganser Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

PowerPoint Presentation (illinois.gov)

 I think they are pretty cool. 

 

After breeding season, male mergansers change from the white body and dark head, to looking the same as the females. 

[Mark K]

19 minutes ago, Scott Ferguson said:

After breeding season, male mergansers change from the white body and dark head, to looking the same as the females. 

Yeah, you are right.  I don't typically see them this time of year. 

[Rob G]

Let's throw these guys in there as well, the recently reintroduced River Otters.  Seeing more and more of these efficient fishermen as well down here.