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Monday, 28 January 2013

Goosander (Female)

I found this female Goosander on the smallest of the lakes in the Parkland today.
The Goosander is sawbilled duck that dives for fish in freshwater. 
Although predominantly a freshwater bird, it does visit the sea as well.









It was diving for fish and occasionally getting mobbed by Black-headed Gulls when it surfaced with a fish in its beak.





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31 comments:

  1. Anonymous28 January 2013 at 19:00

    Great stuff Roy, I really like the last two shots especially :-)

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  2. Helma28 January 2013 at 19:20

    Roy just beautiful! So pretty clear, sharp and beautiful color. I'm quite a bit jealous lol ..... Truly a wonderful series ..

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  3. grammie g28 January 2013 at 19:30

    Hey Roy...There are some on the river or there was, as it has froze over this week!!
    She sure was having a great time for herself, until the Gulls started bugging her!!
    Wonderful photos!!
    Grace
    No it is not just your post comments,it is driving me crazy!!

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    1. Roy Norris29 January 2013 at 00:03

      Thanks GG, Oh I thought it was mostly my comments.{:)

      Delete
  4. John28 January 2013 at 20:24

    Great group of shots Roy! Managed to see this individual the other day when searching for the other Redhead at FM lately.
    J
    Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

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    1. Roy Norris29 January 2013 at 00:04

      Thanks John, yes I didn't get to see the other one.

      Delete
  5. Anonymous28 January 2013 at 23:27

    Oh, those pesky gulls.

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  6. Linda Yarrow28 January 2013 at 23:38

    Good shots, they look very much like the Mergansers. I have seen Red-breasted Mergansers in Poole Harbour, both male and female.

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    1. Roy Norris29 January 2013 at 00:05

      Thanks Lyn, yes I have to check the book to sort them out.

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  7. Wilma28 January 2013 at 23:52

    Great action shots! Especially the ones with the gulls; that is an angry looking goosander.

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  8. Cuby29 January 2013 at 12:09

    The photos are beautiful but the last two show an interaction of anger between the agressive mob and the lone victim. Are goosanders usually solitary.

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  9. Roy Norris29 January 2013 at 13:50

    Thanks Claire, no not particularly, but its the time of year when many water birds are on the move.

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  10. Guy29 January 2013 at 15:04

    Hi Roy

    Beautiful photos of a beautiful duck. It does remind me of our Mergansers
    with its rusty red head and slender bill. And seeing the Goosander trying to hold out against the greedy gulls does strike a chord.

    All the best.
    Guy

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  11. Marianne De Vogelkijker29 January 2013 at 15:16

    Very nice Roy. The ones with the gulls are impressive. Did you know they have an sort of nickname in Holland for Goosander? It is called 'butter belly' and at your photo's you can perfectly see why. Nice capture3s Roy!

    Regards,
    Marianne

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    1. Roy Norris29 January 2013 at 19:40

      Thanks Marianne, I didn't know that, but I can definitely see why.

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  12. ShySongbird29 January 2013 at 16:12

    A very nice find Roy and lovely photos too. I have only ever seen them at Draycote, very elegant birds I think.

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  13. Jenny29 January 2013 at 16:49

    I love the Sawbills. Such handsome birds, both male and female! You got some great shots there Roy. As many others have said, specially the interaction with the gulls!

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    1. Roy Norris29 January 2013 at 19:41

      Thanks Jen, I don't see them that often, but they are nice looking birds.

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  14. aliqot31 January 2013 at 19:31

    Great shots. What a fine bird.

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    1. Roy Norris1 February 2013 at 10:39

      Thanks Alison, yes we don't get to see these very often around here.

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  15. Mary1 February 2013 at 15:09

    You got great shots of it! Those with it upright look like it is telling you to go away :-) And it certainly is not happy with those gulls. Beautiful.

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    1. Roy Norris1 February 2013 at 16:35

      Thanks Mary, yes I think that was the message she was trying to convey.{:))

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  16. Sjerp Weima1 February 2013 at 20:09

    Very nice series. Especially the one where it to keep the BH-gulls away. I like these kind of shots showing behavioural interactions.
    Sjerp

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  17. KaHolly3 February 2013 at 22:00

    She's a beaut!! I was talking with one of my Cape Breton, Nova Scotia birding friends today and he told me there were 12-1500 mergansers yesterday not too far from my house. He said they kept coming and coming and coming!! What a sight that must have been!

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    1. Roy Norris4 February 2013 at 00:50

      Thanks Karen, yes that would have been a sight.

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