Paul,
   Common Mergansers are regular on the Potomac and since they are migrating now you will probably see more. In addition, be on the lookout for breeding birds or young in late spring and early summer.
--
Bob Ringler
Eldersburg MD


---- Paul Mackey <> wrote: 
> Saturday morning, 7:00, at the 72.8 mile marker (across the river from
> Shepherdstown, WV), I saw 9 COMMON MERGANSERS (3 m. and 6 f.)
> 
> Sunday afternoon, 2:45, saw the Common Mergansers farther west at the 73
> mile marker.  
> 
> I bird the canal at this spot about once a month and this is the first time
> I've seen them.  Also saw 3 GREAT BLUE HERONS on the WV shore, west of the
> 73 mile markers, which isn't that unusual but is always a nice discovery.
> The canal there is a busy place so I'm curious if I'm just missing the fun
> or birds like the Common Mergansers are infrequent visitors.
> 
> Saturday birds:
> AMERICAN CROWS
> CANADA GEESE
> BLUE JAYS
> CAROLINA CHICKADEES
> CAROLINA WRENS
> 2 PILEATED WOODPECKERS
> 3 NORTHERN CARDINAL
> 5 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
> 1 TUFTED TITMOUSE
> 4 DOWNY WOODPECKERS (1 m., 2f. & ?)
> 2 RED-BELLIED WOODPECKERS 
> EUROPEAN STARLINGS
> 9 COMMON MERGANSERS (3m. and 6 f.)
> 
> Other birds seen on Sunday:
> AMERICAN CROWS
> 2 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES
> 5 TURKEY VULTURES
> 1 BROWN CREEPER
> 1 BELTED KINGFISHER
> 1 MALL
> 8 CANADA GEESE
> CAROLINA CHICKADEES (by ear)
> NORTHERN CARDINAL (by ear)
> CAROLINA WREN (by ear)
> 
> Sorry I don't have exact numbers on many of the birds.  There are times when
> I spot a species and then again very near and I'm sometimes not sure if it's
> the same bird or another.  I've listed the numbers where I'm confident.
> 
> Paul Mackey
> Hagerstown, MD
>