Walking past the tannery dam yesterday I spotted a male and female goosander swimming along with the usual mallards and disappearing from time to time as they dived under the water in search of food. They are also known as the Common Merganser or sawbill diving duck. They are known for their incredible fishing skills and unique nesting habits. They eat small fish, molluscs, worms and amphibians. Their saw bills help them to grip slippery fish. They typically use holes in trees or banks near water for nesting. I’ve seen male goosanders on the tannery dam in the past but never a pair. The female has a brown head with a distinctive tuft of feathers at the back. Perhaps they will stay and rear a brood if the habitat suits.

Barbara Kipling

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