Overview

Family - Swans, ducks and geese (Anatidae).

These handsome diving ducks are a member of the sawbill family, so called because of their long, serrated bills, used for catching fish. A largely freshwater bird, the goosander first bred in the UK in 1871. It built up numbers in Scotland and then since 1970 it has spread across N England into wales, reaching SW England. Its love of salmon and trout has brought it into conflict with fishermen. It is gregarious, forming into flocks of several thousand in some parts of Europe.

Comment

It looks as if my first photographed goosander may have fishing line coming from his mouth.  I would guess the unfortunate bird may have swallowed a bait intended for pike. On 3/1/2010 I managed to get a few shots of a very health looking bird, again at Cheddar reservoir.