Action Shots: Common Mergansers eating Kokanee

[Eric Ellingson]

Tis the season for the Kokanee to be spawning up small streams from lakes just like their relatives, Sockeye salmon. Kokanee and sockeye salmon are the same species, but kokanee never make the journey to the ocean. They spend their entire lives in lakes, migrating to tributary streams to spawn in the fall. What does this have to do with birds? The Kokanee get eaten by Common Mergansers, Bald Eagles, Gulls, and their eggs get eaten by Bufflehead and American Dippers. As the Kokanee concentrate in shallow waters they can easily become prey to many others. Here are a few pics of the action.

Here are a few pics of the action.

FYI: These birds are VERY skittish. The slightest disturbance and especially one's presence sends them rapidly flying off. It can take 30-60 minutes for them to return IF they feel the coast is clear. I hope you enjoy these. Many hours were spent sitting low on the ground out of sight waiting for them to return, then a couple hours to catch the action. More later. Cheers

Other recent photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/

Eric Ellingson 360-820-6396  esell...@gmail.com

[Margarette Grant]

Great photos, Eric. Thanks for your patience!

[Adena Mooers]

Oh my, I would be stuffed if I ate that whole fish. I cannot imagine how those Ducks damage to get them down  and still breathe and move. I have thought the same thing about seagulls eating whole starfish though and they do fine. It just takes them awhile. Those are amazing photos.

On Dec 1, 2025, at 10:28 PM, Eric Ellingson <esell...@gmail.com> wrote:

Tis the season for the Kokanee to be spawning up small streams from lakes just like their relatives, Sockeye salmon. Kokanee and sockeye salmon are the same species, but kokanee never make the journey to the ocean. They spend their entire lives in lakes, migrating to tributary streams to spawn in the fall. What does this have to do with birds? The Kokanee get eaten by Common Mergansers, Bald Eagles, Gulls, and their eggs get eaten by Bufflehead and American Dippers. As the Kokanee concentrate in shallow waters they can easily become prey to many others. Here are a few pics of the action.

Here are a few pics of the action.

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FYI: These birds are VERY skittish. The slightest disturbance and especially one's presence sends them rapidly flying off. It can take 30-60 minutes for them to return IF they feel the coast is clear. I hope you enjoy these. Many hours were spent sitting low on the ground out of sight waiting for them to return, then a couple hours to catch the action. More later. Cheers

Other recent photos here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ericellingson/

Eric Ellingson 360-820-6396  esell...@gmail.com

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