If you see a large (as in, not a Hooded) female merganser on saltwater, you should immediately think Red-breasted, but this
female Common Merganser, is, well, a Common Merganser even though she's is on the saltwater of the east pool at Forsythe NWR. The sharp contrast at the neck and chin are key marks, with Red-breasted's dark markings blurring into the lighter chest rather than being sharply demarcated like this bird's. And the head color is darker, the bill a bit thicker than Red-breasted.
