As crazy as this may seem, on Thursday March 12 in the rain, I observed a pair
of Common Mergansers on the Middle Prong of the Little Pigeon River in Pittman
Center, TN, about 1.6 - 2.0 miles downstream from the pair that arrived in
March. They have been observed by others as well and seem to prefer the calm
water between where Copeland and Webb Creek flow into the Middle Prong.
After some careful study and comparison of photos of the female, this is indeed
a new pair of Common Mergansers on the Middle Prong, perhaps with progeny from
last years nesting. This pair stays together and seem very skittish, unlike the
pair accustomed to lots of activity in Greenbrier, which now has only the
female hanging around (I observed her this morning about 1.5 miles upriver from
the Hwy 321 bridge on the Middle Prong).
I will post comparison photos as well.
Here's a photo of the May pair on the Middle Prong from Friday, March 13, in
better weather.
Keith Watson
Pittman Center, TN
Sevier County
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