Goosander in Liverpool Docks?

ExiledWool · #1 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010, 07:43 PM

Evening all

Is this a female goosander? Apologies for the poor quality, didn't have long lens on...

It suddenly came out of hiding in Princes Half-Tide Dock in Liverpool. Not somewhere I would have expected it to be

Have looked on RSPB and that's what it appears to be

The Woodman · #2 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010, 07:45 PM

It looks to me like it has has the finer features of a female Merganser but there'll be experts along any minute!

ChrisJB · #3 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010, 07:46 PM

Yes it is a female goosander.

Chris

Dogghound · #4 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010, 07:47 PM

Yes Female Goosander

faz · #5 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010, 07:52 PM

yes as above lucky you never seen one in the wild but looked after loads in my time

faz · #6 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010, 08:03 PM

i want to see a wild smew

i no same family

ExiledWool · #7 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010, 08:04 PM

I can see how it looks like a merganser....

Dogghound · #8 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010, 08:06 PM

Seen both in the past 2 days, a single female smew and about 10 goosander, certainly in respect to goosander there is alot of movement around here at the moment, seems to be a good winter for them here. Not to sure what their status is in the south though. Would of though you could pick a few up on a sea watch or checking all your local lakes regularly.

ExiledWool · #9 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010, 08:09 PM

Ok, another image of it. Again, apologies for the poor quality

Why would it be out in the docks of Liverpool? Caused by the bad weather? By the way, the rest of this dock is frozen

Dogghound · #10 (**permalink**) 03-12-2010, 08:15 PM

Why not? its not an unusual place to find a goosander. They often winter or spend time on estuaries, and sheltered areas of coastal water, as well as lakes, rivers, reservoirs etc. Im sure there are plenty of fish for it to feed on in there.