Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Red-breasted Merganser
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Red-breasted Merganser
Ducks are very much tied to the seasons in Barrington. Mallards can be found locally all year long. Other ducks nest in the Barrington area during breeding season, species like wood duck and hooded merganser. Most of the rest pass through on their northward and southward migrations in late fall and early spring, or spend the winter in local waters. Getting to see them depends largely on when the lakes and ponds and rivers are free of ice.
One of the species we can regularly expect to see from late fall to early spring is the red-breasted merganser (Mergus serrator). When Bakers Lake and other local bodies of water lose their ice cover, this mid-sized merganser is sure to visit, sometimes in large numbers. During the recent arctic blast, the best place to find the red-breasted merganser and other ducks was around dams in the Fox River where there was open water.
The red-breasted merganser falls midway in size between the common merganser and hooded merganser. The male is a handsome dude with a shaggy green head, prominent white neck band and wing patches, red bill and eyes, and, less conspicuously, a somewhat reddish, dotted breast which is the source of its name. The female has none of the male’s flashiness. She’s mostly grey, with a reddish head and unkempt hairdo. Both sexes have a similar profile in flight: long, slender, tapering at both ends, and wings with conspicuous white patches.
Female Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)
Like its cousins, the red-breasted merganser is a diving duck. Its long, narrow, serrated bill is designed to snag small fish and crustaceans underwater. It’s always important, when trying to identify distant ducks, to determine whether the ones you’re looking at are surface feeders (e.g. mallards, shovelers) or divers, like the mergansers. That simple observation will cut your list of possibilities in half.
In winters when local water bodies are frozen, Lake Michigan often is not. On a recent lakefront walk our band of birders counted 70 red-breasted mergansers (and more than 180 common mergansers). It’s often easy to spot them in the Chicago River from bridges and riverbank walkways.
Since this merganser is an arctic and sub-arctic breeder, our only opportunities to see them occur during migration and in winter, assuming there is open water for them. At Bakers Lake, my preferred spot to look for red-breasted mergansers, the best window lies between late March and late April. Since the birds will be headed to nesting grounds, it’s possible to witness their elaborate courtship displays which include head shakes and salute-curtsies, when the males half-submerge and project their heads and beaks skyward. Now, that is plenty of reason to head out to local lakes in early spring in search of this interesting and eye-catching species.
Wendy Paulson has lived in Barrington Hills since 1975, and has led bird walks in the area for many years. She re-established the Nature Lady program in the Barrington 220 school district and St. Anne’s in the late 70s, under the auspices of The Garden Club and Little Garden Club of Barrington. Wendy developed the education program for Citizens for Conservation, initiated and edited its newsletter, and has been an active volunteer with CFC for over 30 years.
Wendy Paulson
During interludes in New York City and Washington, DC, Wendy taught classes about birds in the public schools and is helping to develop a similar program in Chicago public schools with Openlands. She is chairman of The Bobolink Foundation, serves on the board or advisory committee of multiple conservation and bird-related organizations, both domestic and international, and is former chairman of IL and NY chapters of The Nature Conservancy.
Wendy and her husband Hank have two grown children and are avid hikers, cyclists, and kayakers.
CLICK HERE to explore all of the local bird profiles Wendy has authored in our Birds of Barrington series at 365Barrington.com.
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Spring Homecoming
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Brown Creeper
Wendy Paulson’s Barrington Area Bird Walks Return for Late Summer & Fall, 2020
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Ruby-crowned Kinglet
In a bleak year, the natural world stirs hope
Barrington Christmas Bird Count Helps Map Population Trends Globally
Annual Christmas Bird Count to Reveal New Insights on Barrington Bird Population
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Field Sparrow
New Schedule of Fall Bird Hikes with Wendy Paulson
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Common Yellowthroat
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Wilson’s Snipe
New Schedule of Spring Bird Hikes with Wendy Paulson
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Cooper’s Hawk
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | American Robin
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Bald Eagle
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Eastern Wood Peewee
Wendy Paulson’s Barrington Area Bird Hikes this Fall!
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Chimney Swift
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Yellow Warbler
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Song Sparrow
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Common Goldeneye
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Of Music & Mourning Doves
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Northern Shrike
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Tale of the Turkey Vulture
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Song of the Sedge Wren
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Dickcissel Discovery
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | American White Pelican
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | American Woodcock
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Common Merganser
Barrington Area Spring Bird Walks & Hikes with Wendy Paulson
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | American Tree Sparrow
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Golden-crowned Kinglet
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Blue Jay
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | American Goldfinch
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Black-billed Cuckoo
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Brown Thrasher
Spring Bird Spotting with Wendy Paulson
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Wood Duck
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Red-bellied Woodpecker
Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | White-throated Sparrow
365. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Great Horned Owl
311. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Pied-billed Grebe
266. New Schedule of Fall Bird Hikes With Wendy Paulson
265. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Common Nighthawk
235. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Cedar Waxwing
200. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Indigo Bunting
164. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Scarlet Tanager
163. Stunning Photos Captured During Annual Baker’s Lake Island Rookery Bird Count
126. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | The Eastern Towhee
97. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Return of the Red-winged Blackbird
61. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington: The Upside-Down Bird
60. New Season of Spring Bird Walks & Hikes with Naturalist Wendy Paulson
43. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | The Downy Woodpecker Yawns at Dawn
13. The Ultimate Recycling Project Refreshes Heron Rookery with Christmas Trees
6. Recycled Christmas Trees Bound for Rookery Island
5. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington: Red-tailed Hawk
321. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington: The Sandhill Crane
278. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington: Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
248. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | The Call of the Killdeer
228. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Barn Swallows Signal Autumn’s Approach
199. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington: Eastern Kingbird
153. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Baltimore Oriole
126. Wendy Paulson Highlights The Great Blue Heron, Barrington’s Official Town Bird
125. Hands of Hope’s 14th Annual Barrington Country Garden & Antique Faire
89. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Eastern Meadowlark, the Flautist of Prairies
66. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Northern Cardinal
64. Barrington Spring Bird Walks with Wendy Paulson
36. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | The Black-Capped Chickadee
18. Christmas Trees Transported to Refresh Nests at Baker’s Lake Rookery
337. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | ‘Tis the Season for Snowbirds
279. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Eastern Bluebird
201. Fall Bird Walks Scheduled with Wendy Paulson
186. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | The Bobolink
116. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Great Egret Spotting at Baker’s Lake
84. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | Finding the Northern Flicker
72. Wendy Paulson’s Birds of Barrington | An Eye on the Eastern Phoebe
Salutations! Today we don't just have /one/ Word of the Day... no no no. Today, I'd like to introduce you to the days of the week! 😁
First things first, though! We had an --amazing-- club meeting last week. Pretty chill, pretty conversational -- and I got my butt kicked at both Kahoot and Gimkit. 😂
Onto the Words! So, there're a lot of ways to say the days of the week in Chinese. You can start 'em off with 星期 (xīng qī),周 (zhōu),or even sometimes 礼拜(lǐ bài). For today, we'll look at the way I first learned that sequence: 星期 (xīng qī)
So, if you know numbers, this might make a lot of sense. Essentially, the days of the week are numbered (Monday = 星期一, with 一 yī meaning "one"). The only exception is Sunday, which can be called 星期日 xīng qī rì , with 日 meaning "sun," or 星期天 xīng qī tiān, with 天 meaning "sky" or "heaven."
NAMI online support groups are a great opportunity to find community & to learn from the challenges and successes of others who live with mental illness. Capped at 15 participants, registration is required.
NAMI Parents Support Group
Friday, April 16th at 7-8:30pm
NAMI Connection Support Group
Monday, April 12th at 7-8:30pm
Thursday, April 15th at 7-8:30pm
NAMI LGBTQ+ Support Group
Tuesday, April 13th at 7-8:30pm
NAMI Family Support Group
Wednesday, April 14th at 7-8:30pm
For registration and more information visit the link in our bio.
Happy First Birthday little one! 🥳🎂 audrey.abboreno Thank you for sharing your adorable photos! ❤️#firstbirthdaycake #smashcake #cake #celebratewithcake #cakesofinstagram #365barrington #barrington #christissweetcafe #supportsmallbusiness...
Retail storefront in prime pedestrian location in downtown Barrington surrounded by Village shopping, restaurants, and steps to the Metra train station. Great opportunity to own a high visibility space, currently vacant, ready for you to move in and
Featured
1 / 26
$297,000
3
BEDS
3
TOTAL BATHS
306 Hickory Lane #D Lake Barrington, IL 60010
Condo For Sale
- Active Under Contract
Beautifully updated Braeburn model with terrific views over the 11th green of the Lake Barrington Shores golf course! So many updates to enjoy including an open floor plan with rich hardwood floors and a full kitchen update featuring custom cabinetr
New Listing - 2 weeks online
1 / 10
$160,000
0.52
ACRES
COOK
COUNTY
1100 Prairie Avenue Barrington, IL 60010
Land For Sale
- Active
Great opportunity to build your dream home on a half acre in Barrington right down the street from Baker Lake and Ron Beese Park. Located just over a mile south of downtown Barrington, this rare waterfront location is a few blocks away from award-wi
1 / 41
$600,000
5
BEDS
4
TOTAL BATHS
20331 Ela Road Deer Park, IL 60010
Single Family Home For Sale
- Active Under Contract
Amazing value! Beautiful home on 5 acres and accessed by a private road. This unique home features new exterior stain and beautiful landscape views from every window. Many upgrades inc. updated kitchen with hickory cabinets, large center island, cori