Monday, December 20, 2010

Suburban Goosanders

Goosanders in Mytholmroyd
Did anybody else see the three red-head goosanders in the Calder under Caldene Avenue bridge in Mytholmroyd? They were there at midday yesterday (Sunday 19th December). One seemed to be looking for fish - repeatedly put its head under water and then raised its body, flapped its wings and shook its head, as if the water was too cold for comfort - which I'm sure it was. There was a dipper in the water, too. There were also three goosanders at Fallingroyd about a week ago, but that party included a male. Is it usual for goosanders to be in the Calder in built-up areas, or is it because of the hard winter?

Shan

I transfered this from the Wildlife Blog
Steve
Posted by at

5 comments:

Mike Stead said...

There were also 7 Goosanders on the Calder behind 'Sugdens' buildings just off Brighouse town centre at the end of last week. Usually they are seen on the quieter stretches upstream near EGP or downstream behind British Car Auctions site (under the M62 bridge).
A male Tufted was with a few Mallard on a small stretch of unfrozen water on the Calder at Bridge End today. It's not too often that the Calder freezes over !

7:37 pm
steve_e said...

Last winter there were up to 20 at a time in Sowerby Bridge Center, even up the Ryburn by the Stirk Bridge.

Also had a female in MRoyd last Jan.

10:47 am
Jeff Cox said...

Had a female Goosander on the Calder at Eastwood the other day, swimming between patches of ice.

11:44 am
Phil Wood said...

Must admit I haven't seen any on the Calder in the towns mentioned, and I doubt it is deep enough in Todmorden. I have had a couple of Dipper sightings in recent weeks, however.
Not local, and not winter, but quite urban: my interest in birds, and certainly that of my son, was greatly increased by finding a female Goosander and 17 ducklings on the River Derwent in the centre of Matlock Bath in 1995.

4:36 pm
Steve Cummings said...

10 days ago there were 3 redheads at North loop and 3 males near Brookfoot at Elland. They don't seem to mind people much at this time of year but take flight if dogs get a bit too close. Must be good numbers of fish in the Calder these days.

6:39 pm

Post a Comment