Fred,
     It is definitely my impression also that there are more reports of
Red-breasted Mergansers on fresh water this winter.  My winter counts along
the towpath from Sycamore Landing to TenFoot Island in Montgomery Co. have
borne this out.  I have recorded a small flock of Red-breasted Mergansers on
4 of 5 counts.  Usually I only find them at the beginning of spring
migration.
     My last count was 13(11 males and 2 females) on
13 January 2007.  The other interesting thing is that the seem to be roughly
the same part of the Potomac each week.

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA